He told his teacher he didn’t want to live — her response made him feel 'seen' for the first time
She did not realise that a question so simple would warrant such an unexpected response from the young student.
Trigger Warning: This story contains themes suggesting suicide that some readers may find distressing.
Corrie (@cor.thecounselor on Instagram), a middle school counselor from Iowa, entered her class as usual and began taking attendance. Like every day, she asked a simple question to her students — something she believes supports "social-emotional learning" (SEL) in the classroom. "Would you try skydiving?" Corrie asked. All students answered one after the other, but a particular response shocked her. A child stood up, saying he would try skydiving, but with one condition. "Only without a parachute," he said, leaving Corrie numb. The teacher, overwhelmed by the confession, knew something was wrong, and so she decided to intervene further, and her gentle response saved the child. Corrie thereafter posted the incident online.
The child had no desire to live; he didn't say it out loud, but his response conveyed more than words could. Corrie asked why he would want to try skydiving without a parachute, but the child had no answer. "He lowered his head and said quietly, 'I don’t know,'" she recalled. Corrie knew she couldn't let his confession slip into silence, and she had to do everything she could to change his perspective. "Well, if I were going skydiving with you, I’d make sure you had all the safety equipment you needed because we don’t want anything to happen to you," she responded, letting the child know he wasn't alone. Corrie didn't want him to feel awkward, so she moved on with the class. She, however, hadn't forgotten about it. After class, Corrie pulled him aside and called in another school counselor to talk to him. Corrie took the opportunity to explain how important it is for educators to incorporate SEL activities in class. "Sometimes, it’s in the quiet answers that we discover the loudest cries for help," Corrie wrote. You can check her post here!
Interacting with students regularly motivates them and helps them open up more. Research wanted to solve the low participation and interest among 37 student teachers who were learning English as a foreign language (EFL). So, they were asked short and simple attendance questions at the start of every class. Instead of saying 'present' or 'yes', they were now asked to answer a question during attendance. The teacher noted all the changes, improvements, and students’ opinions through questionnaires and interviews. Towards the end, it was evident that the attendance questions slowly but successfully increased student engagement in the class. They became active in the class and thought deeply about their lessons. The student teachers became more interested in what they were being taught. Attendance questions also create a sense of belongingness in the class. They feel safe from judgments and slowly open up about their inner turmoils, just as Corrie's student did. Another study found that students who felt a sense of belongingness reported enjoying lessons more. They found discussions more useful and participated more. While the rest felt judged by peers, provoking negative affective experiences.
Meanwhile, reacting to the Instagram reel, @finding_india28 commented, "I was that kid, and as that kid, I’m forever grateful to the teacher who got me the help I needed to navigate the issues during my senior year." @joanne shared, "One day, when I was a teen, I don't quite remember the context, but someone asked us who we'd take with us on an island. First, I thought nobody, but then I thought about my sister. That's a moment where it clicked for me that I wasn't quite alright, but also that I did have someone I didn't want to leave behind. Didn't speak about it then, but it still helped make the right decisions."
You can follow Corrie (@cor.thecounselor) on Instagram for more teaching-related content.
If you are having thoughts about taking your own life, or know of anyone who is, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
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