What is the best way to leave school with a smile on your face?
There are certain holiday movies I look forward to watching every year. Scrooged is one of them. It’s great from start to finish—but the final ten minutes are something special. If I’m flipping through channels and that scene is on, I stop and watch. Even without investing the prior two hours, I always find myself getting choked up.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has been retold dozens of times, but Scrooged might be my favorite version. We follow Frank Cross (Bill Murray) as he encounters three ghosts on Christmas Eve. By the end of the night, he has transformed from a money-obsessed, selfish television executive into someone who truly believes in the spirit of Christmas and the power of giving.
“If you give… then the miracle can happen to you.”
What does Frank mean by give?
What does he mean by miracle?
At the beginning of the film, Frank gives his brother bath towels for Christmas. Why? Because he doesn’t know him. In fact, Frank doesn’t really know anyone. His life has been guided by power and greed, not connection. As the movie unfolds, Frank begins to listen. He starts learning about the people around him. He reflects on the consequences of his actions—and his inactions—and comes to understand what people truly need.
To give, you first have to connect.
You have to understand what others actually need, not what’s convenient for you to offer.
The miracle Frank refers to is purpose. He finally understands the fulfillment that comes from doing for others. A life driven solely by self-interest has left him empty. Only when he begins giving back does he experience real joy. The miracle is the happiness that comes from living a life in service of others.
A Connection to Education
Everyone knows the phrase slippery slope. It usually carries a negative meaning: start down the wrong path, and a cascade of problems follows. But what if we applied that same idea to positive choices?
Imagine two sides of a mountain—two slippery slopes. One side represents poor decisions and the consequences that follow. The other represents positive actions and the benefits that come from choosing that direction.
So where do we start on the positive path?
Frank started with giving—and that’s where educators should start, too. Before Frank could give meaningfully, he had to understand the people around him. Before educators can truly give, they must know their students. Without meaningful relationships, the best we can offer our students are bath towels.
When you truly know your students, you know what they need:
- Time
- Patience
- Understanding
- Love
- Attention
- Affirmation
- A second chance
This is where the miracle happens.
When students receive what they truly need, amazing things occur. They look forward to coming to class. They work for you. They give you their best.
Giving unlocks students’ potential and gives them the opportunity to fall in love with school. But just like Frank’s transformation, the impact isn’t one-sided. Giving doesn’t only create miracles for those on the receiving end—it changes the giver as well.
When you build meaningful relationships with students and provide what they need, you experience a kind of joy that few professions can offer.
And that’s the best way to leave school each day—with a big smile on your face.
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