Close your eyes and imagine working. That is not too difficult correct? Now imagine yourself working in a mine over 2,000 feet below the surface of the Earth in a mine below Chile’s Atacama Desert! That was the exact location of 33 men, when on August 5th, 2010, the century year old mine collapsed. A single 770,000-ton block of rock “twice the weight of the Empire State Building” collapsed blocking all the passage ways. As the debris fell, the weight of the severity of the situation set in. The 33 miners ran to an area designated as a “safety room” which contained enough food to last 25 men two days. It contained “1 can of salmon, 1 can of peaches, 1 can of peaches, 1 can of peas, 18 cans of tuna, 24 liters of condensed milk (8 of which were spoiled), 10 bottles of water, and 93 packages of cookies.” This was all they had to eat until rescue workers were able to finally drill a small hole to them on day 17!
The Foreman Luis Urzua was identified as primary contributor to the survival of the group. Immediately after the collapse he organized the men and took and inventory of the supplies. He established a long-term plan of survival. He also created a detailed map of the newly created layout for the rescuer team and created activities for the men to do to maintain their mental stability. He collected and used scraps to make checkers and domino games. He was so disciplined with the food, prior to it being able to be received through a small delivery tunnel, that one day the men sliced a single peach wedge into 33 sections to share with each other. There average meal was less than 300 calories.
Even though the men got access to a phone line, food, clean water, and other supplies through a 4.5- inch delivery hole, they still had to spend an additional 52 days underground while rescuers widened the tunnel to the size that the rescue pod could fit. On October 12th, the first miner emerged from the tunnel after a 30-minute journey in the rescue pod. Twenty-four hours later, Luis Urzua, was the final Chilean miner to be rescued from the collapsed mine. The world watched at the “33 Chilean Miners” were now all physically free, however some of them struggled mentally for years after. One miner had to even go through the act of going back down into the mine and exiting again to bring his nightmares to an end!
When it comes to being a leader, people often have to walk behind those that they wish to lead. Many great leaders are what many would describe as a “servant leader.” What this all means is that in the classroom, ego and pride often must be placed to the side. Disrespect should never be accepted or tolerated, however when establishing your authority in a school and/or classroom it is important understand your students and allow them to see you display characteristics like humility, kindness, and empathy at times. The role of an Educator is to provide guidance and facilitate the student while they are on their academic journey. It is important to develop a sense of ownership in them when it comes to their education. It is not required for you to provide their actual classroom supplies; however, you develop their character, provide content knowledge, encourage critical thinking & goal setting, and equip them with the tools needed that cannot be purchased at Target, Wal-Mart, or Office Depot.
Reflect on how Luis Urzua led the men out of their situation which could have almost certainly ended with death. He led almost through camaraderie. He crafted a plan of survival, consistently implemented it, and exceeded expectations with his results. The 33 men that were trapped over 2,000 feet for almost 70 days each survived to tell the tale. Even after all the sacrifices that he made, when he could have taken care of himself selfishly or deservingly, Luis was the very last man to climb into the pod and make that final silent thirty-minute journey up into the world that he once knew and the family that loved him. Those 33 men now share an eternal bond, and an enormous amount of respect for their self-less leader. Incorporating this philosophy into the classroom can free even more students from the obstacles and mental pits that they are trapped in. As you lead them, selflessly, you too will develop eternal bonds with your students which truly makes you a Next Level Teacher!
The Jeremy Anderson Group