it was recently asked if there was one moment in my life that had me pause and
moment in my life that had me pause and
moment in my life that had me pause and switched tracks many I thought sadly
switched tracks many I thought sadly
switched tracks many I thought sadly some I’d like to forget because the
some I’d like to forget because the
some I’d like to forget because the tracks led to darkness and a few I will
tracks led to darkness and a few I will
tracks led to darkness and a few I will never forget because from the darkness
never forget because from the darkness
never forget because from the darkness came the light I want to share with you
came the light I want to share with you
came the light I want to share with you one such moment in France best July 14th
one such moment in France best July 14th
one such moment in France best July 14th is a French national holiday called
is a French national holiday called
is a French national holiday called Bastille Day it celebrates a turning
Bastille Day it celebrates a turning
Bastille Day it celebrates a turning point in the French Revolution and the
point in the French Revolution and the
point in the French Revolution and the unity of the French people in 2016 on
unity of the French people in 2016 on
unity of the French people in 2016 on that day I was in Nice with five
that day I was in Nice with five
that day I was in Nice with five students and my daughter my students
students and my daughter my students
students and my daughter my students were attending a three-week innovation
were attending a three-week innovation
were attending a three-week innovation and entrepreneurship program with about
and entrepreneurship program with about
and entrepreneurship program with about 400 students from around the world and
400 students from around the world and
400 students from around the world and while much of nice was closed for the
while much of nice was closed for the
while much of nice was closed for the holidays it was business as usual for me
holidays it was business as usual for me
holidays it was business as usual for me and my students little did I know when
and my students little did I know when
and my students little did I know when this photo was taken on Bastille Day
this photo was taken on Bastille Day
this photo was taken on Bastille Day that the day would end with these two
that the day would end with these two
that the day would end with these two young men
young men
young men Shmuel and Misha impacting my life in
Shmuel and Misha impacting my life in
Shmuel and Misha impacting my life in such a meaningful but different ways one
such a meaningful but different ways one
such a meaningful but different ways one through life and one through loss of
through life and one through loss of
through life and one through loss of life yet both causing me to pause and
life yet both causing me to pause and
life yet both causing me to pause and reflect on my own humanity reminding me
reflect on my own humanity reminding me
reflect on my own humanity reminding me to be the light life can change in a
to be the light life can change in a
to be the light life can change in a moment and it did early evening about
moment and it did early evening about
moment and it did early evening about thirty thousand people made their way to
thirty thousand people made their way to
thirty thousand people made their way to the promenade to celebrate the holiday
the promenade to celebrate the holiday
the promenade to celebrate the holiday despite efforts to watch the fireworks
despite efforts to watch the fireworks
despite efforts to watch the fireworks with my students plans changed and I
with my students plans changed and I
with my students plans changed and I stayed at one of the ends of the
stayed at one of the ends of the
stayed at one of the ends of the promenade to watch and celebrate with my
promenade to watch and celebrate with my
promenade to watch and celebrate with my daughter and two colleagues I remember
daughter and two colleagues I remember
daughter and two colleagues I remember it being a pretty spectacular night one
it being a pretty spectacular night one
it being a pretty spectacular night one moment the lights from the fireworks
moment the lights from the fireworks
moment the lights from the fireworks we’re adding Sparkle and joy to the
we’re adding Sparkle and joy to the
we’re adding Sparkle and joy to the evening mood and then everything went
evening mood and then everything went
evening mood and then everything went dark what I remember is hearing chaos
dark what I remember is hearing chaos
dark what I remember is hearing chaos and looking and seeing thousands of
and looking and seeing thousands of
and looking and seeing thousands of people running towards me and screaming
people running towards me and screaming
people running towards me and screaming I don’t recall what I thought other than
I don’t recall what I thought other than
I don’t recall what I thought other than where’s my daughter she had wandered
where’s my daughter she had wandered
where’s my daughter she had wandered down the promenade to capture photos of
down the promenade to capture photos of
down the promenade to capture photos of the fireworks but thankfully she felt an
the fireworks but thankfully she felt an
the fireworks but thankfully she felt an urge and she had returned before I knew
urge and she had returned before I knew
urge and she had returned before I knew it we were being herded out the back end
it we were being herded out the back end
it we were being herded out the back end of the restaurant while gunshots were
of the restaurant while gunshots were
of the restaurant while gunshots were filling the air I began to panic and was
filling the air I began to panic and was
filling the air I began to panic and was thinking is this really happening safety
thinking is this really happening safety
thinking is this really happening safety was the only thing going through my mind
was the only thing going through my mind
was the only thing going through my mind and at that moment my thoughts went to
and at that moment my thoughts went to
and at that moment my thoughts went to my students and I
my students and I
my students and I realized I had left my phone on the
realized I had left my phone on the
realized I had left my phone on the table I was paralyzed by the thought of
table I was paralyzed by the thought of
table I was paralyzed by the thought of no connection to them then what I
no connection to them then what I
no connection to them then what I considered an act of courage my
considered an act of courage my
considered an act of courage my colleagues husband went back through the
colleagues husband went back through the
colleagues husband went back through the restaurant and returned with my phone
restaurant and returned with my phone
restaurant and returned with my phone where do you go when no place feels safe
where do you go when no place feels safe
where do you go when no place feels safe well I knew that squatting and hiding
well I knew that squatting and hiding
well I knew that squatting and hiding behind a car was not the best option we
behind a car was not the best option we
behind a car was not the best option we could hear the doors on the streets
could hear the doors on the streets
could hear the doors on the streets beginning to slam and lock our first
beginning to slam and lock our first
beginning to slam and lock our first instinct was to hide in a dumpster but
instinct was to hide in a dumpster but
instinct was to hide in a dumpster but when we ran back to the doors into that
when we ran back to the doors into that
when we ran back to the doors into that entry were closed we tried several
entry were closed we tried several
entry were closed we tried several apartment doors all locked then finally
apartment doors all locked then finally
apartment doors all locked then finally we met one just closing and with open
we met one just closing and with open
we met one just closing and with open hearts they led us in my heart was
hearts they led us in my heart was
hearts they led us in my heart was pounding I had a message from one of my
pounding I had a message from one of my
pounding I had a message from one of my students Rebekah Lana
students Rebekah Lana
students Rebekah Lana Misha’s been shot Lana
Misha’s been shot Lana
Misha’s been shot Lana Misha’s been hit Lana Misha’s gone and
Misha’s been hit Lana Misha’s gone and
Misha’s been hit Lana Misha’s gone and then I kept getting updates with
then I kept getting updates with
then I kept getting updates with shakings hands I messaged a colleague to
shakings hands I messaged a colleague to
shakings hands I messaged a colleague to call me after speaking she triggered the
call me after speaking she triggered the
call me after speaking she triggered the emergency response at McEwen and McKean
emergency response at McEwen and McKean
emergency response at McEwen and McKean became my lifeline between home and
became my lifeline between home and
became my lifeline between home and niece I couldn’t get to my students that
niece I couldn’t get to my students that
niece I couldn’t get to my students that night as the mayor had called lockdown
night as the mayor had called lockdown
night as the mayor had called lockdown on the whole city and I wasn’t able to
on the whole city and I wasn’t able to
on the whole city and I wasn’t able to leave until early morning I can’t
leave until early morning I can’t
leave until early morning I can’t describe how difficult it was for me not
describe how difficult it was for me not
describe how difficult it was for me not knowing if my students were safe but
knowing if my students were safe but
knowing if my students were safe but once home I got a text and a photo from
once home I got a text and a photo from
once home I got a text and a photo from Rebekah saying they had ich mall they
Rebekah saying they had ich mall they
Rebekah saying they had ich mall they had all pulled their mattresses into one
had all pulled their mattresses into one
had all pulled their mattresses into one dorm room and were sleeping together I
dorm room and were sleeping together I
dorm room and were sleeping together I knew they had each other I slept for two
knew they had each other I slept for two
knew they had each other I slept for two hours than the morning brought clarity
hours than the morning brought clarity
hours than the morning brought clarity as to what had happened so what really
as to what had happened so what really
as to what had happened so what really happened Ishmael has described to me
happened Ishmael has described to me
happened Ishmael has described to me what he heard and experienced
what he heard and experienced
what he heard and experienced I won’t tell his story that’s for him to
I won’t tell his story that’s for him to
I won’t tell his story that’s for him to tell but what I will say is what he
tell but what I will say is what he
tell but what I will say is what he heard was the eerie sound which was the
heard was the eerie sound which was the
heard was the eerie sound which was the 19 ton truck quietly accelerating
19 ton truck quietly accelerating
19 ton truck quietly accelerating towards them it’s lights were out
towards them it’s lights were out
towards them it’s lights were out no one knew what was coming it was
no one knew what was coming it was
no one knew what was coming it was seconds before he and seven other
seconds before he and seven other
seconds before he and seven other students realized the driver was
students realized the driver was
students realized the driver was intentionally running over people and
intentionally running over people and
intentionally running over people and they jumped to get out of the way during
they jumped to get out of the way during
they jumped to get out of the way during this unthinkable act of terrorism
this unthinkable act of terrorism
this unthinkable act of terrorism ton truck traveled almost two kilometers
ton truck traveled almost two kilometers
ton truck traveled almost two kilometers taken the lives of 86 people and
taken the lives of 86 people and
taken the lives of 86 people and injuring 458 others for the next six
injuring 458 others for the next six
injuring 458 others for the next six days I was McEwan’s representative on
days I was McEwan’s representative on
days I was McEwan’s representative on the ground
the ground
the ground partly because I would not come home not
partly because I would not come home not
partly because I would not come home not until we found Misha he was one of the
until we found Misha he was one of the
until we found Misha he was one of the five students who was missing from the
five students who was missing from the
five students who was missing from the program for those next six days the job
program for those next six days the job
program for those next six days the job was not the job I went down with but my
was not the job I went down with but my
was not the job I went down with but my life had prepared me for it I was
life had prepared me for it I was
life had prepared me for it I was McEwan’s representative on the ground
McEwan’s representative on the ground
McEwan’s representative on the ground and I just said that Misha was one of
and I just said that Misha was one of
and I just said that Misha was one of five students who was missing from the
five students who was missing from the
five students who was missing from the program my most important job I had for
program my most important job I had for
program my most important job I had for those six days was the being mom to this
those six days was the being mom to this
those six days was the being mom to this group of students this tribe this was a
group of students this tribe this was a
group of students this tribe this was a day where the motions ran the roller
day where the motions ran the roller
day where the motions ran the roller coaster tracks from the lowest of low up
coaster tracks from the lowest of low up
coaster tracks from the lowest of low up to the very high these young men told us
to the very high these young men told us
to the very high these young men told us their stories of being on the promenade
their stories of being on the promenade
their stories of being on the promenade their lived experience of losing three
their lived experience of losing three
their lived experience of losing three of their friends in the attack Misha
of their friends in the attack Misha
of their friends in the attack Misha basil yeskey was one of the victims we
basil yeskey was one of the victims we
basil yeskey was one of the victims we cried yet in the end were able to find
cried yet in the end were able to find
cried yet in the end were able to find joy and develop a bond that forms only
joy and develop a bond that forms only
joy and develop a bond that forms only in the hearts Tuesday July 19th was a
in the hearts Tuesday July 19th was a
in the hearts Tuesday July 19th was a surreal day at 11 a.m. we met at the
surreal day at 11 a.m. we met at the
surreal day at 11 a.m. we met at the victim services to be with Mischa’s
victim services to be with Mischa’s
victim services to be with Mischa’s family at their request we wanted to be
family at their request we wanted to be
family at their request we wanted to be there for them to help celebrate
there for them to help celebrate
there for them to help celebrate Mischa’s memory to hold space to share
Mischa’s memory to hold space to share
Mischa’s memory to hold space to share stories to hold hands and to hold hearts
stories to hold hands and to hold hearts
stories to hold hands and to hold hearts in that evening we all gathered on the
in that evening we all gathered on the
in that evening we all gathered on the promenade to pay respects for all the
promenade to pay respects for all the
promenade to pay respects for all the lives that were lost during the attack
lives that were lost during the attack
lives that were lost during the attack there were lots of Tears lots of hugs
there were lots of Tears lots of hugs
there were lots of Tears lots of hugs and many many moments of silence the
and many many moments of silence the
and many many moments of silence the experience of coming together strong and
experience of coming together strong and
experience of coming together strong and in solidarity is a powerful human
in solidarity is a powerful human
in solidarity is a powerful human experience I came back from France
experience I came back from France
experience I came back from France wanting to cultivate a deeper personal
wanting to cultivate a deeper personal
wanting to cultivate a deeper personal and social awareness so I could be at my
and social awareness so I could be at my
and social awareness so I could be at my best to serve our common human future I
best to serve our common human future I
best to serve our common human future I came home with more questions than
came home with more questions than
came home with more questions than answers how are we so connected yet so
answers how are we so connected yet so
answers how are we so connected yet so disconnected why is it only in times of
disconnected why is it only in times of
disconnected why is it only in times of crisis that we come together in
crisis that we come together in
crisis that we come together in solidarity and with understanding
solidarity and with understanding
solidarity and with understanding regardless of our differences how do we
regardless of our differences how do we
regardless of our differences how do we lay new tracks to humanize education I
lay new tracks to humanize education I
lay new tracks to humanize education I was struck by a couple of things in nice
was struck by a couple of things in nice
was struck by a couple of things in nice first was the complexity of an emergency
first was the complexity of an emergency
first was the complexity of an emergency response we’re all people who must come
response we’re all people who must come
response we’re all people who must come together in a coordinated effort machine
together in a coordinated effort machine
together in a coordinated effort machine intelligence could coordinate and
intelligence could coordinate and
intelligence could coordinate and communicate much of what made the
communicate much of what made the
communicate much of what made the necessary actions more efficient but it
necessary actions more efficient but it
necessary actions more efficient but it was the human connection the empathy
was the human connection the empathy
was the human connection the empathy displayed by all the people that created
displayed by all the people that created
displayed by all the people that created this feeling of solidarity I came home
this feeling of solidarity I came home
this feeling of solidarity I came home with insight that terrorism could not
with insight that terrorism could not
with insight that terrorism could not whither the human spirit nor could
whither the human spirit nor could
whither the human spirit nor could technology ever replace us we are all
technology ever replace us we are all
technology ever replace us we are all joined by something uniquely human and I
joined by something uniquely human and I
joined by something uniquely human and I believe that it is our capacity to
believe that it is our capacity to
believe that it is our capacity to connect and empathize from the heart it
connect and empathize from the heart it
connect and empathize from the heart it also struck me that we worry so much
also struck me that we worry so much
also struck me that we worry so much about students success that we forget
about students success that we forget
about students success that we forget that the most meaningful learnings come
that the most meaningful learnings come
that the most meaningful learnings come from failure from challenge from an
from failure from challenge from an
from failure from challenge from an experience who positives outcomes are
experience who positives outcomes are
experience who positives outcomes are not known
not known
not known we still educate students in silos but
we still educate students in silos but
we still educate students in silos but that’s not how the world operates it’s
that’s not how the world operates it’s
that’s not how the world operates it’s messy it’s complex it’s uncertain we
messy it’s complex it’s uncertain we
messy it’s complex it’s uncertain we need to educate more in the way that we
need to educate more in the way that we
need to educate more in the way that we experience life and prepare students to
experience life and prepare students to
experience life and prepare students to be confident in their values and skills
be confident in their values and skills
be confident in their values and skills their ability to adapt to create and to
their ability to adapt to create and to
their ability to adapt to create and to learn and to get up when knocked down so
learn and to get up when knocked down so
learn and to get up when knocked down so they are strong enough to make their way
they are strong enough to make their way
they are strong enough to make their way not just through the thinkable but
not just through the thinkable but
not just through the thinkable but through the unthinkable
through the unthinkable
through the unthinkable this will help prepare students for a
this will help prepare students for a
this will help prepare students for a world in which they will follow their
world in which they will follow their
world in which they will follow their hearts and seek their ways of being
hearts and seek their ways of being
hearts and seek their ways of being forces for good their ways of
forces for good their ways of
forces for good their ways of contributing to creating a world where
contributing to creating a world where
contributing to creating a world where the tragedy of nice of Misha becomes
the tragedy of nice of Misha becomes
the tragedy of nice of Misha becomes unthinkable
unthinkable
unthinkable if niece taught me anything it was this
if niece taught me anything it was this
if niece taught me anything it was this when our young people were no longer
when our young people were no longer
when our young people were no longer there to take a course as students but
there to take a course as students but
there to take a course as students but to take their own measures as people
to take their own measures as people
to take their own measures as people what they knew and who they were were
what they knew and who they were were
what they knew and who they were were each so important and I had to ask
each so important and I had to ask
each so important and I had to ask myself if as an educator I was
myself if as an educator I was
myself if as an educator I was all I could do to help them along their
all I could do to help them along their
all I could do to help them along their way so herein lies my challenge as an
way so herein lies my challenge as an
way so herein lies my challenge as an educator and perhaps yours to whatever
educator and perhaps yours to whatever
educator and perhaps yours to whatever our area of expertise might be we are
our area of expertise might be we are
our area of expertise might be we are all called to show our students not what
all called to show our students not what
all called to show our students not what to see but how to look for a new mindset
to see but how to look for a new mindset
to see but how to look for a new mindset and a new worldview when that integrates
and a new worldview when that integrates
and a new worldview when that integrates fully their knowledge and skills their
fully their knowledge and skills their
fully their knowledge and skills their willingness to step up to step out their
willingness to step up to step out their
willingness to step up to step out their resilience in the face of adversity and
resilience in the face of adversity and
resilience in the face of adversity and a well forged sense of their own
a well forged sense of their own
a well forged sense of their own humanity if I do not meet this challenge
humanity if I do not meet this challenge
humanity if I do not meet this challenge I risk my students being too easily
I risk my students being too easily
I risk my students being too easily seduced by unthinking and inhumane
seduced by unthinking and inhumane
seduced by unthinking and inhumane ideology and doing what is easy
ideology and doing what is easy
ideology and doing what is easy what is shiny what increases the
what is shiny what increases the
what is shiny what increases the bottom-line by what gets them what they
bottom-line by what gets them what they
bottom-line by what gets them what they want with no regard for the broader
want with no regard for the broader
want with no regard for the broader consequences of their actions
consequences of their actions
consequences of their actions nice took me deeply into the dark now in
nice took me deeply into the dark now in
nice took me deeply into the dark now in the light that has followed I’m inspired
the light that has followed I’m inspired
the light that has followed I’m inspired to do more to do better to lay new
to do more to do better to lay new
to do more to do better to lay new tracks thank you
tracks thank you
tracks thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment