Editor,
Miss Maddie Shoop-Gardner’s Student News column, “How a man in a cell redefined learning for me,” was moving and thought-provoking. It made me reflect on how my relationship with learning has evolved over time, and how perspective and access shape the way we engage with it. As a therapist, I also see how learning can be profoundly healing, offering clarity, resilience and the wisdom to move forward.
In my teens, I, too, chased achievement, earning the “A,” making the dean’s list, striving for recognition. Over time I learned that education is not about perfection, but about seeking understanding, questioning beliefs and allowing ideas to transform us. When we confront new perspectives, we not only expand our thinking but also begin to make sense of ourselves and the world in more meaningful ways.
Maddie’s reflection on Keith LaMar struck me deeply. In the confines of a prison cell, he found freedom through reading and reflection. His story reminds us that even in the darkest places, learning can open doors no walls can contain. Shoutout to Maddie and other teens who are modeling depth and grounding us back to the essence of learning.
Nicole Hanhan, LCSW
San Bruno
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