Luke's Team

(Social-Emotional Learning in Action)

Sometimes our greatest learning comes not from textbooks or lesson plans, but from overcoming the challenges life throws at us. Ponderosa High School senior Luke Karel is a straight-A student and varsity athlete. During his junior year, Luke's excitement for an amazing baseball season was met with off-field adversity: Acute Myeloid Leukemia. His teammates stayed in close contact with Luke as he spent 144 days in the hospital. All of it led to this incredible moment as the Mustangs celebrated their 4A Baseball Championship.

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Luke’s Story is a perfect illustration of social-emotional learning.

For Luke: resilience, choosing optimism and hope, a sense of belonging, the healing power of connection and community.

For Teammates: a lesson in empathy, knowing when and how to be there for a friend, showing up when needed, stepping outside of themselves and putting their friend’s needs first, compassion in action, the gift of presence.

For the School: Perspective, recognizing the incredible power of family, school, and community supports, understanding how to be there for a teammate stepping outside of one’s own skin, seeing the power of perseverance and hope, making a difference.

Social-Emotional Learning is, at its core, the building of sturdier human beings.