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From: David Shapiro
Date: 22 Oct 2007
Time: 19:41:40 -0500
Remote Name: 70.109.2.34
Hi Jennifer, Thank you for your kind words. I am glad that you too relate to The Velveteen Rabbit and the real, inner beauty that we all possess. Your question is intriguing. I’m really not sure what might be the most important message that I try to impart. Perhaps it is that you are O.K. just the way you are and that your willingness to approach an aspect of self-improvement more defines your character than the relative fluency of your speech. Or maybe it is that being real is absolutely essential and that being fluent may not be related to being real. Or maybe it is a reminder from Saint Exupery in The Little Prince who said, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” I am interpreting your next question as relating to the consistency of the messages from the clinician and parents to the child. In most cases, the messages from the parent and clinician are consistent. When they are not, it is particularly important to try to see from the perspectives of all involved, so as to understand the differing assumptions, without judgment. Understanding one’s assumptions is essential to understanding the motivation behind behaviors and priorities. I might add that the good fortune of being in the same classroom is mine. Thank you for your confidence. I have no question that you will go on and make a real and positive difference in the lives of many. I am so glad that you have chosen our department for your professional preparation. Good luck. David Shapiro