Anyone who knows me knows how much I love superheroes. The Marvel movies that have been released over the past 12 years are remarkable. While it has taken DC a few more years to rival their superhero movie competitor, it appears that their new team of heroes are up for the challenge. I really liked the new Wonder Woman and Justice League movies (Aquaman left something to be desired, but was OK).
As I continue to explore Purpose-Driven Learning and seek new ways to unlock and empower essential social-emotional learning skills within the students and teachers with whom I work, it makes sense that I would look to the power of superheroes. In so many ways, superheroes epitomize the Keys of Purpose-Driven Learning. Superheroes are DEPENDABLE - fighting for the wellbeing of others. Often failing in their initial encounter with villains, they demonstrate RESILIENCE, as they rise again. It is because of their EMPATHY for those they are trying to save that superheroes never give up. They put forth their best EFFORT as they continually try to and ultimately succeed in conquering evil.
In this clip from the Justice League movie, Batman has assembled a powerful team of heroes. The Flash, at this point, is just a teenage boy, and in the midst of their first battle, he is scared. As the Flash says in the clip, he has “never done battle.” He doesn’t think of himself as a hero and is at a loss of how he can help. Batman offers him wisdom that I feel we all can learn from, “Save one.”
In these times, how many of us are facing situations we have never faced before, are encountering obstacles we could never dream of, and are being asked to overcome challenges we do not feel equipped to conquer? The needs of the world are many. Heck, the needs of our classrooms, our families, our everyday lives are many. Many of us are scared - which is a valid feeling when thrust into situations we feel unprepared to face. Fear can cause us to freeze and fail to take action. It is in these moments, we can internalize Batman’s words, “Save one.” Of course, we most likely are not saving people from supervillains, but we are being called to do what we can, here and now, to face challenges, overcome obstacles, and make our world, or maybe the world of another, a little safer, happier, healthier - in some ways, making this shared world better by taking the INITIATIVE to act.
Heroic initiative is our superpower! Being brave enough to take the first step, having the courage to speak up and speak out, actively seeking out others to join us on our hero’s journey. For that is what we each need to undertake - a journey throughout our lives in which we do not ignore the struggles of others or run away from our own fears, but rather we need to come together to face them. 2020 has thrown a lot of unexpected obstacles in our path - how have you taken the initiative to acknowledge these challenges, to step back and reflect on them, to set a plan for confronting them, and to begin to take action in overcoming them? Save one - make one confident decision, one bold choice, one intentional action.
And after you have taken this first step, what comes next? Well, the Flash asks the same question and I offer Batman’s answer. You will know what to do next. Spoiler: The Flash goes back into the fray and saves one more, then another, and another, until he ends up saving every person. No fighting, no battling - his mission was to take the initiative to rescue those in danger as the other heroes fought. He didn’t set out to save them all, but in rescuing one at a time, he saved the day. We all have a role to play, skills to contribute, and abilities that are needed. What couldn’t we accomplish, if we’d only begin - one challenge, one injustice, one obstacle at a time?