The Coaching Corner:

The Power of Writing - The Power of the Internet


I have had an interesting experience that I would like to share with all students and parents. I've already shared it with my classes, and upon further reflection, I thought it would be a great topic for the Pawprints.

Ten years ago, I was very involved in many online discussion groups. One active and often heated group covered religious topics.  As usual, I was extremely passionate in a quick reply regarding the events of 9/11.

Later through the years, I wondered about what I wrote and decided to look for it around 9/11 in 2010.  I found many different variations of my reply in the discussion group all over the Internet, but never found the actual post. On one website was something as close to the original as I remembered writing it.  It was tagged with Author Unknown. I wrote to the website's owner and told him I, Tess Haranda, was the author.  He put my name and my coaching website on the tagline.

I posted the story to my Facebook page, but it wasn't really noticed.

Fast forward to 2011.  Early in September, I was contacted by a man from Pennsylvania. He'd found my post and wanted to use it in a 9/11 service and give me credit as the author. Actually, he said he'd read the piece right after 9/11 in 2001 and went back to find it again for the ten year anniversary. I was humbled and flattered. I told the priest at my church about, and he asked if I would read it during our own service.

On Monday, 9/12/11, the man from Pennsylvania requested to friend me on Facebook.  In his note, he said my piece was well-received at his service, and they were skyping to Afghanistan during the service.  Not only was I humbled, I was floored.

Something I wrote as a quick and passionate response on a discussion board was going around the Internet and around the world. My words had power that I hadn't realized. The Internet had kept them alive.

I've been telling my students to remember this when they are online. Their words could be around for a very long time, and they might have an impact on people around the world. You just never know.

My best,

Tess Haranda

8^th grade Language and Literacy

Creative Reading/Writing Studio

Life Coach

www.successwithtess.com