North Central Teachers Convention

We have a responsibility to pass on a legacy of caring, compassion and character to those we teach, mentor at work and support within our families. We must be mindful of the legacy we are passing down to others. Reflections: • My mother passed down the ability to be compassionate by saving my life, as I was not supposed to be born. I gave to my sister in the camps what my mother passed on to me. • My father was prejudice toward public education. I learned the importance of needing courage and determination to overcome his prejudice attitudes. By releasing myself from the power of negativity I enabled myself to become the person I was destined to be. • Hitler envisioned the complete denial of human existence. Within the walls of the camps there were many examples of individuals who felt the hatred towards others that had been passed down to them as part of their family legacy. I learned the importance of acceptance and compassion, and the capacity of each individual, regardless of ethnic or religious background, to learn and do good. Closing: We cannot change the past. The future lies in your hands. The choices we make today will affect us tomorrow. We need to ask ourselves what examples we want to leave behind for others to embrace as the foundation of their legacy.