Over the last few days, I’ve experienced what countless others have experienced – a great feeling of grief. This blog is more personal than professional. Not only are we mourning Kobe and his beautiful daughter Gianna, but the other seven passengers as well. Each one of them was a child, parent, aunt, uncle, sister, brother, friend, associate, a person. These horrific deaths remind us that nothing is promised – not today or tomorrow.

Of course, we all talk about Kobe because he was famous. For me, he played ball in gym class with my son. For others, they knew “of him” like they knew “of” the seven other casualties of this fatal flight. Whatever your relationship is/was with the deceased, the one thing for certain is that death may knock on anyone’s door at any time.

At the same time, these deaths have galvanized classrooms nationally and internationally. I’ve been reading about how teachers are using this tragedy as a way for their students to reach out to their peers to give and get support. What a positive impact on our students! Teachers are making time, not finding time, for their students to mourn these losses. They are giving their students a voice in the healing process.

One quote of Kobe was especially meaningful to me, “I’ll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it is sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot.” What great advice to the world… never stop doing whatever you can to accomplish your goals, individually and collectively.

So while we all mourn this devastating loss, may Kobe’s words of wisdom resonant for all future generations. Rest in peace: Kobe and Gianna Bryant; Alyssa, Kerri, and John Altobelli; Christina Mauser; Sarah and Payton Chester; and Ara Zobayan.