This morning Tho and me went to Vevey market
Just as we went back to the parking we stumbled across a former student from the time when Tho was the director of a social workers training in Switzerland.
We have not met him
for a very long time
He studiedin this training institute only some time before we left the community and in the last years that Tho was responsible for the educators training.
He seemed very pleased to see us
and he told Tho that not long ago he finished a training in order to become a director of a social institutions for children who had suffered severe abuse ( drug addict parents, sexual abuse etc...he said the worst family situations imaginable)
He told Tho that during his presentation for his diploma he had mentioned Tho:
He remembered when he started his training, he had felt overwhelmed "culturally"( he came from a non european country) but
also cognitively. He always felt at ease with the kids with disabilities but studying was difficult for him. He went to see Tho in his office and told him he did not feel up to the requirements for the training concerning writing, and the more reflective work
etc...Tho answered ( of course Tho does not remember) : OF COURSE YOU ARE CAPABLE! you have the right attitude with the kids, you have kindness and compassion and you are able to understand them on a deep level. Of course YOU ARE CAPABLE to become a certified
special educator...For this work you need to develop HEAD HEART AND HANDS all this together is important! Without understanding your love and compassion might not leed to the right actions.
This former student had mentioned
this a few weeks ago during his presentation for his diploma and he said he often tells this experience he hads in in THo's office ( he even rememberd Tho's body posture standing behinds his desk with a certain authority and kindness) He tells it to his students
in various social worker trainings where he now intervenes...and he tells this to the to the kids he now works with, how this moment gave him the confidence and understanding that shaped his life until now...you need to develop HEAD HEART And HANDS...and of
course you are capable!
So just a reminder to us all...how words are important....sometimes we do not know the impact a word can have!
This was a nice moment