Posts Tagged ‘teacher’

06
Aug

26 Tuesdays: Lauren Rousseau

smiling teacher

Last week we honored Avielle Richman, who had a loose tooth and loved horses. Since we had had a horse lover the week before, I didn’t want to repeat what I had done for Jessica Rekos, but I found it a little difficult to find an act of kindness that had to do with loose teeth! Somehow I think I might get arrested if I were to volunteer to help a kid yank out their loose tooth!

Fortunately, two media concerns helped me discover other ways to help others from my very own home. When I was in the hospital, I was given a magazine to read (because I was getting totally bored!) and it’s one I grew up with: Woman’s Day. My mother religiously read that magazine every month and I occasionally indulge in the same avocation. Believe it or not, this issue spoke about helpfromhome.org. Help from Home has a pile of ways people can help others without ever getting out of their P.J.’s. So, this week I clicked on some links that edged “click tallies” closer to a target goal. Once met, corporations will donate money to worthy causes, such as providing more trees in areas where they are sparse and feeding impoverished children in Peru.

I also grew up with 60 Minutes in my living room every Sunday evening and this week they discussed mercyships.org this past Sunday evening. Mercyships.org sends ships to African countries where people still believe that tumors are spiritual curses. They believe this so vehemently that people with tumors can be cast out of their homes and communities. People in these countries are also often blinded by cataracts. Thus, the nurses and doctors on a mercy ship provide much needed surgeries to remove tumors and cataracts and deliver basic medical care to those who need it most. They are a Christian concern, regularly praying before and after surgeries for their patients, but will help anyone in need (regardless of religious belief) for free. In fact the doctors and nurses there actually pay for the privilege of working on these ships–they raise their own support. The ships have their own fire departments, schools and other needed services. Because of this, romances often bloom and marriages and families ensue!  Some children are raised entirely on the ship to the point that they don’t even recognize mailboxes when they are on vacation in the U.S.! Many plan to live and work on these ships for the rest of their lives.

If you haven’t yet done your act of kindness this week, may I suggest you go to these web sites and see what you can do to help these organizations? And then, please take a moment to let me know how you helped! So, this brings our MIP act of kindness to 68!

This week we honor Lauren Rousseau, a permanent substitute teacher at Sandy Hook. Here’s what CNN said about her:

Lauren Rousseau, 30

Rousseau, a permanent substitute teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary, “wanted to be a teacher from before she even went to kindergarten,” her mother said in a written statement Saturday. “We will miss her terribly and will take comfort knowing that she had achieved that dream,” Teresa Rousseau said. She grew up in Danbury, Connecticut, and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Bridgeport. Rousseau “worked as a substitute teacher in Danbury, New Milford and Newtown before she was hired in November as a permanent substitute teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown,” her mother’s statement said.

Thursday’s Post: A surprise for one of my readers…

You might also like: 26 Tuesdays: Avielle Richman, 26 Tuesdays: Jessica Rekos, 26 Tuesdays: Caroline Previdi, and 26 Tuesdays: Noah Pozner

12
Feb

26 Tuesday: Rachel D’Avino

teddy bear

Last week’s Sandy Hook honoree was Daniel Barden, who liked drums. Since I live with two percussionists, the LSH and I went to our local music store and searched the extensive offerings of drumsticks for a few sets that would help out our local church. (We have a contemporary service each Sunday.) When the owner of the store learned that we were giving the drumsticks to our church, he not only gave us a discount, but he also gave us a free set of drumsticks! What a generous man!  I felt like we were the ones receiving the act of kindness!

A relative of ours said he gave a larger than usual tip to his server at his local restaurant as his act of kindness this past week, so the MIP 26 Acts of Kindness stands at 7 and we are only two weeks into this little “campaign.” What did you do for your act or acts of kindness this week? (And yes, it’s okay to just say you completed an act or acts of kindness.)

Today’s honoree is one of the staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary and in light of the holiday we will be celebrating this coming Thursday, it is truly sad to read about Rachel D’Avino. But, I hope her example will become an example to us all and that we will make sure she did not die in vain:

Rachel D’Avino, 29

She likely didn’t know it when she died, but her best friend was about to propose. He had recently asked Rachel’s parents for permission, and he was planning to ask for her hand in marriage on Christmas Eve. That and other details about Rachel’s life were described in an obituary posted on the website of Munson-Lovetere Funeral Homes of Connecticut. “Her presence and tremendous smile brightened any room she entered,” it read. Born in Waterbury, Rachel received her undergraduate degree from the University of Hartford and her Masters from Post University. She was working toward her Doctorate at the University of St. Joseph of Hartford. Rachel loved karate, cooking, animals, photography and her two younger siblings. “Her passion, however, was her occupation as a behavioral therapist working with children within the autism spectrum,” the obituary read.

 

There is much in this description that I can “hang my hat on” as I think about what to do to honor Rachel. As a recent master’s graduate, I know her time was limited and so doing something for our local university or University students seems to make sense. My youngest is a purple belt in karate and so, this prompts me to think about what karate students might need. We have more stuffed animals than we probably need at our house, so I also wonder if those should make their way to a children’s charity. And two of my family members are great amateur photographers, making me want to do something along those lines, as well. One of our sons has a learning disorder that now may be linked to the autism spectrum disorders.

And then, there is the whole engagement thing. Having just witnessed the marriage of the DD and DSL this year, it makes me want to do something for all the engaged couples out there, who probably are finding their budgets a tad stretched at the moment. This is particularly true with it being Valentine’s Day Week.

What strikes you as something you have in common with Rachel? Let’s all show a little love for Rachel this week (and for her best friend who wanted to marry her) by doing something wonderful in her name. I look forward to hearing your stories about your acts of kindness very soon.

Tomorrow’s Post: Ever been to Wal-Mart right before Valentine’s Day?