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It’s Kinda Like Welcome Back Kotter, In a Good Way

Do you remember the show Welcome Back Kotter? Well, it kinda reminds me of what it's like in some of my college classes. I'm the "Kotter" for a group of vibrant and honest women on Thursday nights. The class is called Introduction to Victimology and we get into some pretty emotional discussions on a week to week basis. You wouldn't believe some of the stories I heard. It's a lot of fun and very rewarding. Here's what my student Tammi said to me in class tonight: "Ms. Zampenelli (I have no idea why she calls me that) you might be white, but you got a black soul, you different." I took it as a compliment. I felt like maybe I was stepping into my big person's shoes for an afternoon. I have at least 3 important male figures who I admire and would want to "grow up and be like." Martin Luther King, Jr. Robert F. Kennedy and Rev. Ahman Barack Obama picture. Hope and ProgressWhat I like about each of these leaders is their ability to speak to the human spirit. It seems to me that Obama might be the next important male figure in my life and the life's of many others. I hope that we can be inspired not only by his presidential victory but also by his spirit and determination. I hope we will follow his lead and take on those dreams that continue to call our names. Whether it's opening a homeless shelter or forming a corporation, we all have unexpressed dreams and now is a good time to dust them off, take them off the shelf and put them to good use. From Sabotage to Success by Sheri ZampelliIf you need help overcoming self-sabotage so you can reach your leadership potential, check out my book, From Sabotage to Success. It will help you to learn more about who you are, what your gifts are and how you can be a valuable contribution in this world simply by letting go of self-sabotage and following your dreams.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, November 6th, 2008 at 10:56 pm and is filed under Public Speaking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “It’s Kinda Like Welcome Back Kotter, In a Good Way”

  1. tami terrell says:
    November 9, 2008 at 4:42 am

    hi Mrs. Z…i was so surprised that you put what i said on your blog but that is so You! True to you , your classes , the community and to your higher power you go girl and before i forget and i will be doing this in class i do want to apologize for using the word retarded iI IS a term of endearment with those that i kick it with never the less class is a form of a different stage and though you may understand still there maybe some in there who have relatives that well you know … i am trying also in class i do want to give you the utmost respect not becasue i have to but becasue you truly have earned the respect of the students you hold it down and we be the hard core people (smile) …….white black asian greek mexican can have a bad soul we know that it anit the color its the context of the chareacter that puts the color into a soul our class we women we are the RAINBOW ……
    SEE YOU LATER SUNNY

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