He put his thoughts into words in a high school essay assignment several months in the making.
On this episode of the Supercast, a Riverton High School student, his mom, and teacher share some powerful lessons learned from the essay assignment. And we find out how one caring and compassionate teacher is impacting lives.
Audio Transcription
Anthony Godfrey:
Hello, and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. He put his thoughts into words in a high school essay assignment, several months in the making. On this episode of the Supercast, a Riverton High School student, his mom, and teacher share some powerful lessons learned from the essay assignment. And we find out how one caring and compassionate teacher is impacting lives.
We're at Riverton High School with DeSean. He's a junior at Riverton, and he's done a project writing about his life, talking about some of the difficulties that he's gone through. And I want to talk with him about the project and about some of the things that he's learned as a result. We're also here with Shasta Burton. Shasta, tell us your role in working with DeSean and a little bit about the assignment to start with.
Shasta Burton:
Sure. So DeSean was in my virtual language arts class and we had a journal prompt that he responded to that was really inspiring to me. And so I made an offer to have a project replace some of his other assignments that he was missing and it just kind of blew up and turned into a really amazing thing.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about your initial reaction to what he wrote.
Shasta Burton:
I was excited because he was completing an assignment and so there was some celebration there. And then as I was reading his response, I realized that there was a lot going on here that we could talk about. And really help him find himself again in school and getting him to participate more and just making sure he had his voice.
Anthony Godfrey:
And that's really what an effective assignment is about. Helping a student find their voice and helping them really discover something authentic about themselves. And so it's that authenticity and an assignment that can really lead to something. So I'm glad that you took the initiative and saw that there was something there so that you could pull DeSean into maybe a deeper exploration of what was going on with him.
Shasta Burton:
Yeah, absolutely.
Anthony Godfrey:
So DeSean, tell me a little bit about what it felt like to have your teacher ask you to explore this. Did that surprise you after your initial assignment?
DeSean:
Yeah, I was in shock. I didn't know what to think. I wasn't expecting it to like turn into that. I just did an assignment. So it was just really shocking to me.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me why this assignment sparked for you a little better than some others did.
DeSean:
I think the assignment was like a big thing in my grade. I don't know. So I just emailed her. I was like, ‘Hey, can I just write about my dad's addiction and his journey?’ And she's like, ‘yeah, that's fine.’ And so that's kind of just what I did it on. And like I have like all his journals and letters. So like I just wrote it off what he was saying how his life is.
Anthony Godfrey:
So tell me about what that was like. Tell me about how you learned about your father and some things that you learned about him and what you've learned for yourself as a result.
DeSean:
What I've learned from him is that I know what is right from wrong and that you should never pick up drugs. It's a really hard subject to talk about. Like, I don't know, he wasn't really there, so I don't know how it is to like grow up with it and stuff like that. So like when I did write it and like when I did get to meet him, like it was a good, it was a good time. Like we got really close, but like once he like died, it was just, I don't know, it kind of just turned. I think that's what the assignment really helped me change, because I've changed so much as a person from that. Just opening up about his life and how it has taken a part on me.
Anthony Godfrey:
I know it may be the difficult to talk about, but tell me about your father.
DeSean:
So from like what his journals that he wrote has said it's like, it's just like talking about how he grew up. Going over those, I do see how he had a really hard life. I didn't really know him. It was like seventh grade when I found out who my father was. And then like, I didn't want to meet him until I knew he was clean and sober, so I didn't. Then like him and my mom, like kinda reconnected and stayed in contact.
Anthony Godfrey:
And how long ago did your father pass away?
DeSean:
Almost two years ago.
Anthony Godfrey:
As you wrote the project, did it make you feel more closely connected to your father?
DeSean:
It did because I kind of just, it felt like I understood what he was going through and like how hard it was. Reading all his journals and his letters, it kind of did make me feel closer to him because those are the only things that I had of him. So like I could just read those and like kind of just, I had that connection with him. Like we kind of just got closer through me getting closer with his personal items.
Anthony Godfrey:
So really it was his writing and your writing, both that brought you closer together?
DeSean:
Yeah. Maybe it's like his plan for me to be his voice. Cuz like, I don't know his, I was just maybe his voice.
Anthony Godfrey:
We also have Laura here who is DeSean's mother. Laura, tell us how did this assignment change to DeSean?
Laura:
It meant a lot because I know the impact it's had on DeSean. He has been able to talk about things more. He's asked questions more and getting into his assignment, gave him a chance to explore what it's really like to be a child of somebody that's an addict and not know where to go or where to turn. And it gave him an option to kind of let those things out and vent in a way that maybe he and I couldn't relate to at the time. He and I relate great and we have a good connection. But I think going through something as traumatic as losing somebody and in that way to addiction, that it helped him kind of release those feelings and be okay with talking about things. And gave him a little bit more hope in life in general.
Anthony Godfrey:
Have you seen changes in DeSean since he wrote this and since he's been through what he has?
Laura:
Yes. This last year's been a complete full circle. He went from being quiet and depressed, sad, lonely to happy, outgoing, wanting to go to school, wanting to go to work, setting goals for himself and accomplishing those goals. And it's kind of given him more of a sense of communication. We can talk about things that maybe other people don't feel comfortable talking about because we've had that traumatic loss. He would ask me questions throughout the assignment and I would just push him to be open and honest and feel it and know that feelings are okay.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's the best kind of assignment that involves family, that has the support of a parent. And that really helps you explore yourself and understand yourself better. Your mom talked about some goals. What are your goals for the future and, and what are your plans?
DeSean:
I really want to graduate high school, which is kind of hard for me right now. I just want to be able to be successful in life. That's really just my end goal is just to be successful and in the future to be a father to kids and to get that connection, cuz I didn't grow up with that. So that's kind of what I want to set, is to be a good father figure too.
Anthony Godfrey:
I think that's a good combination and you're in the middle of your junior year. So there's time for you to accomplish whatever you need to to graduate from high school. So we'll help you. However, we can Stay with us. When we come back, DeSean reads an excerpt from his life changing essay.
Break:
Hello, I'm Tracy Miller, President of the Jordan School District Board of Education. There are seven members on the Board of Education, one in each voting district. We are committed to listening and serving our constituents as we work together to provide the best possible learning environment for the students we serve. As members of the Jordan Board of Education, we believe it is our duty and responsibility to: increase student achievement; provide parents with the choices they deserve and desire; recognize and reward quality in educators; empower school leaders through policy governance and professional development; and communicate with the public, legislators, business leaders, cities, and parents. We invite you to get to know the Board member who represents you in your voting district, and to please join us at our monthly board meeting held on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Or listen from the comfort of your home, on our live stream. For more information and to find your Board member, visit jordandistrict.org. With parent and community input and support we will continue our work to give students every opportunity to succeed in Jordan District schools and beyond. Thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you soon.
DeSean:
So I'm gonna talk about the first time I met my dad.
Three years later, I finally met him. I was a nervous 15 year old. My mom had given my dad my phone number with my permission. He texted me March 26th, 2020. I received the text saying ‘DeSean, Hi it’s Wendell.’ I was shaking, had the jitters. I anxiously responded establishing the roots of a relationship.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Any advice for anyone out there who may be struggling, trying to get through difficult circumstances trying to graduate?
DeSean:
I would just say like you kind of just have to have the positive mindset. It's hard. I get it, it's hard. It is really hard like losing your dad through high school is, and it just takes a toll on you. And then like with other kids growing up, with them going through like addiction, they might not know what to do or like what to say. It's just like not a thing to keep quiet about. Like you have to speak up about it and let others know what is happening so they can at least try to help fix it.
Anthony Godfrey:
I admire that you were willing to not only write about your circumstances and the difficulties that you'd been through, but also to share that with us today for the podcast. So thank you very much for taking the time to talk with me and I wish you the very best through the rest of high school as you get to graduation and beyond.
DeSean:
All right. Thank you. It's a pleasure being on the show.
Anthony Godfrey:
Shasta. How does it feel to see an assignment of yours, and an assignment that you expanded, be so impactful in the life of a family and of a student?
Shasta Burton:
I really feel honored. At first it was really intimidating because it's such a sensitive topic and I wanted to be careful at the same time. Like we have this project with these standards and the things that we have to focus on. And how do I merge this with such an important story that needs to be told? And how do I approach helping him be a better writer without taking away from his story or making him feel like his voice is being squashed? It was intimidating for me because I wanted to do right by DeSean and his mom and his dad. So it was humbling. It was honoring. It was intimidating and I'm just, I'm really grateful to be here. And it's so exciting to see DeSean and the connections that he's been willing to make. The empathy he has for his father.
Anthony Godfrey:
Laura, any final thoughts about the project or the progress that Dashaun has made?
Laura:
I am very proud of this kid here. He's gone through a lot in the last two years from, you know, moving to a new school and having everything new, to losing his father, to falling way behind on online school. Having a teacher just give him the opportunity to expand himself and open up has changed him completely. He's a hardworking kid and he's got a lot of goals and a lot of things on his plate that he manages to do, but it's brought him out of his shell and it's given him a chance. He communicates better from this project. He talks to us more. We have good communication. It may not be the funnest of times sometimes, but I mean it's really helped him to be able to communicate not only with his family, his teachers and let people know like I'm not doing okay or I am doing okay and asking those questions.
Anthony Godfrey:
Communication is the key to having great support and giving everyone the chance to help you and for you to help them. I'm really impressed with your progress and wish you the best going forward.
Thanks again for joining us on the Supercast. Remember education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see you out there.