The Power of Skyping!

Yesterday, we Skyped in the author of the book Shade It Black. My current event class read it together and discussed the many important topics covered in this book.  The Skype was a culminating activity which all the students were looking forward to.

Shade It Black is an account of a Jessica Goodell, a U.S. Marine who served in Iraq in the Mortuary Affairs Unit.  Yes, her job was to retrieve the remains of fallen armed service members in Iraq.

But, the story was more than just her time in Iraq.  Ms. Goodell shared a unique woman's perspective of life in the Marines and her struggles of dealing with the war once she returned.  She gave a candidate account of dealing with her "dark time", and her road to a regain her life after Iraq.

Shade It Black is a compelling and engaging story which my students eagerly read.

Not only did the book allow us to discuss current issues in the Middle East, but the other issues such as the price of war, empathy, and the importance of perseverance.  The Skype brought Ms. Goodell's story to life for my students as they saw how she was able to moved on.  She is not holding on to the past. As one student stated, "that it was amazing that an ordinary person can overcome such bad things."

I hope my students can take this lesson and apply it to their life!