What I Learned from, Harold Johnson
Harold Johnson began to learn that the stories we tell are what cause us to act upon them. He told himself he was a tough, drinking man and so he lived by those thoughts. As he got older, people said he was not smart, so he went to Harvard to prove them wrong. He wanted to make his own story and not follow what others say about him. This is why he is such a courageous leader. Harold saw first-hand the issues of alcohol through his experience as a lawyer which caused him to look further into the issues. The abundance of alcohol issues caused him to show is abilities to be a leader by being a strong and powerful voice for the issue. He has done amazing things for many people and continues to do so.
Harold teaches us that law (enforcement model) does not always bring justice. Even if a person serves a sentence it will likely not help the individual. That is why the medical model is better. Rehab has a 2 to 5 percent success rate, but this is more beneficial than the enforcement model. The medical model is not only rehab but more importantly training doctors and talking about the issues with the most people possible. We need to continue to fuel this awareness.
Harold speech has shown me the power of storytelling and I will use the power as a teacher. Teaching my students in this manner will have deeper meaning. I will encourage positive storytelling. Harold’s story has also showed me the importance of assistance. As a teacher I will let my students know that I am always a safe option to talk to. To allow them to help change their story into a positive one.