The power of "hello" and "goodbye"

Every Friday morning I have the opportunity to see and greet almost every single student at my high school. The high school at which I work
has a little more than 1,800 students, and as I stand their doing my
duty I can't help but think how amazing it is that this process goes as
smoothly as it does. It is my personal goal to say "good morning" to
every student I have, have had, and potentially expect to have. The
typical response I receive from students is a somewhat bewildered,
reserved, and hesitant look that makes me think it is almost painful to
simply say "good morning" back to me. I have trouble understanding why
this is, because I usually don't have any trouble getting my students to
talk in class, and it is interesting that they seem so hesitant to
speak with me in any setting outside of the classroom.

The second part of my story takes place on Friday afternoons as school
is letting out. I get the privilege of doing parking lot duty. I was
asked to do this as a favor because we needed someone to help direct
traffic for our school buses. My initial response was not in favor of
doing this duty, but as someone who wants to be a part of the solution, I
of course said, "Yes, I would be more than happy to help and take this
duty." To my astonishment, I have really enjoyed my Friday afternoon
parking lot duty! I get the opportunity to see my students heading to
their cars, as well as leaving the school grounds. Perhaps the most
interesting thing is that my students, former students, and future
students seem so excited to say "hello" and "goodbye" as they are
heading to their cars and/or pulling out of the parking lot...I can
honestly say I feel really good about myself when I walk back into the
building after my Friday afternoon parking lot duty.

The main point of this post is to help recognize the importance of
acknowledging the people in our lives. When I greet students before
school I think they are shocked and surprised because it is something
they do not expect. They see being greeted at school as an abnormal
activity, and this is something we should definitely attempt to
rectify. If the students arriving at school get half of what I feel
when students say "hello" or "goodbye" to me, then it could be an
extremely powerful tool in developing and growing a school culture. It
is crucial that students see us as more than just their teachers and
principals, but rather as humans that appreciate their existence. It is
so easy for us to put our heads down and walk by, but think about how
you feel when somebody greets you with a "hello" and smile. If you are
like me, this simple gesture can have a huge impact on your day.

Please take this opportunity to make sure you are saying "hello" and
"goodbye," because this simple phrase can have a positive impact on
somebody else's day. More importantly, the person you positively impact
with your "hello" or "goodbye," has the potential to positively impact
another person, and from here the snowball begins to grow. You want to
make a positive impact...it is much easier than you think!