Ode to Lynn Cannici

Last night, a number of us gathered in the third floor conference room for a Journey to Adulthood training session with a remarkable woman named Heidi Clark from Leader Resources.  Heidi has done these training sessions for 15 years.  She is smart.  She is funny.  She is savvy.  She is cool.  I loved hearing what she had to say.  And, I am so grateful that she was able to fit us in right before our Rite 13 and J2A programs (for our 6th – 12th graders) kick off.  The Journey to Adulthood program is a rich, marvelous, spiritual and relevant program.  I am so impressed with it and with the adults who have stepped up to lead it or to be liaisons for us.

During the training, one of the exercises Heidi had us do was a bit of time travel.  She transported us back to our 8th grade self.  To do this she asked us a series of simple questions. Questions like what did our rooms look like?  What was on our bedroom walls?  Who were our friends?  What sports did we play? How did we get to school?  What music did we listen to?  And, slowly I was (I really was) sucked back to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the mid 70's.  My room was modern with a cool skylight.  I had a giant cork board on my wall decorated with ticket stubs from movies, a picture of my boyfriend de jour, and pictures of horses (lots of pictures of horses).  My best friend was Eve Berman.  I played field hockey and lacrosse.  I walked to school and I listened to The Eagles.   

Then, Heidi asked us to think of that person who 'threw us a line.'   

And right away, I thought of my 8th grade English teacher, Ms. Cannici.   

Then, I thought about why she popped into my head.  She didn't do anything dramatic like (literally) rescue me from a fire or save me from drowning.  She didn't chaperone a particularly glamorous or memorable school trip.  But she did look me right in the eyes every day and she listened to me.  She encouraged me.  She made me feel – because she gave me her undivided attention – that I had something to say and that what I was saying wasn't stupid.   

I felt that Lynn Cannici believed in me and that gave me courage.  And, as I recall, being 13 takes courage!

So.  One of the things I would love to share with you all – from that marvelous evening of training – is a very important lesson:  For children between the ages of 10 – 15 some non-parent will meaningfully and lastingly touch their lives and give them courage just by taking the time to pay attention to them and to listen to what they say.   

I challenge all of us (me included) to channel our inner Ms. Cannici.  If you don't already do this, slow down and listen to some of the pre-teen and teenagers in your orbit.   

And, if you have time to transport yourself back to 8th grade, do it!  It was fun (particularly since I didn't have to stay 13 in my mind for long . . . )   

And, you might even try to contact the person who threw you that line (however many years ago), and tell them 'thank you.'  

I did.  

Lynn (I call Ms. Cannici Lynn now!) told me I made her day.   

I am glad I made her day.   

But I know that – actually – what  she made was so much more lasting and significant.   

What she made was me!

Harriet Roberts,
Director of Christian Education