DWilson

This reading begins with Ishy giving Rhonda advice to keep the vision alive. She tells her about IT, which is each persons personal piece of the vision.  She encourages Rhonda to go back and talk to her co-workers, because the only way to find IT, is through conversation.  Rhonda makes a real effort to listen to the nursing staff, and almost at once there is a positive surge of energy on the unit; however, this is short-lived when the new vice-president of nursing, Miss Scallpell, makes her debut.  She threatens the vision when she decides that the unit must do away with the name badges, toys and stuff on the walls.  It proves to be a wake up call to the staff, as they meet to discuss the impending changes.  They realize that what they have is special, and they are not willing to go back to the way things used to be.  It is Juan who comes up with the idea of wearing the fish inside their clothing.  This reinforces the vision as it becomes an active reminder of what they are seeking to accomplish.  I can see many parallels between the nursing staff and teachers.  As teachers, we often feel threatened by changes that are forced upon us, especially when we have strong feelings against those changes.  In spite of this, we sometimes become more focused on what we really want to accomplish when our backs are against the wall.  A statement made to Rhonda by Ping really hit home with me -  "I believe I write a key part of my life story at work and I want to write the best story I can."(p. 48)  As a teacher, I have spent a tremendous part of my life in the classroom, and I must strive daily to "write the best story I can".