These students at a high school in Boca Raton, Florida got it right. Denis Estimon knows all too well what it is like to have to eat alone during lunch at school. So do many of the other students who are part of the We Dine Together Club that he created. This club seeks out those that are eating alone and makes a personal connection. They are building community to give every student a sense of belonging. We shared in this blog earlier this month that social connection is our primary need of survival.
Their story gives me hope. They truly embody the habit of community building and the disposition of empathy. Many of us work directly in k-12 schools. How can we empower our students and create empathy in them?