Susan Boyle Inspired Me To Blog

Since March 28th, this blog has been silent. I have had class nearly every weekend, I'm three days away from my second semester project presentation, and I generally feel every day like I'm drowning.

But here I am, writing about Susan Boyle.

What is it about the story of Susan Boyle that has created such a firestorm of interest? Plenty of others have already tried to answer that question, but as for me, what I like about 47-year-old Susan Boyle is--well, there are so many things:

* She has learning disabilities and was teased as "Simple Susan" as a kid. It's inspirational, renewing hope that some of my most struggling students will find within themselves that great thing they were born to do (though unfortunately our test-driven school system isn't likely to nurture whatever hidden gifts and talents lie within them).
* She took care of her ailing mother, sacrificing years of her own life. She was asked on Larry King how her life might change because of this experience and the first thing she said was, "I won't be lonely anymore."
* She picked "I Dreamed a Dream" because, she said, it fit the circumstances of her life. (the lyrics, in part: I had a dream my life would be/So different from this hell I'm living/So different now from what it seemed/Now life has killed the dream I dreamed).
* She taught everyone in that audience a lesson (and now millions of people around the world via YouTube).
* She smiles when she sings (especially check out the pause before the last stanza; it's priceless).


Simon: What's the dream?

Susan: I-- I'm trying to be a professional singer.

Simon: And why hasn't it worked out so far, Susan?

Susan: I've never been given the chance before, but here's hoping it will change.


Unfortunately, YouTube is not allowing videos of her performance to be embedded, so you can view it here.