As many of you know, I love to tweet. I started tweeting less than two years ago thanks to @zbpipe, and since I’ve started, I’ve never stopped. Twitter can be used for many things, but for me, it’s definitely about professional connections. This week though, I learned that it’s about more than just this.
On my way to school early on Thursday morning, I heard on the radio about the devastating tornado in Alabama. My first thought was, is Amanda Dykes and her family okay? I have never met Amanda, but @amandacdykes is a very important part of my Twitter PLN, and I usually “converse” with her online at least once daily. She’s smart and funny, and she constantly inspires me with new and creative ways to teach. With almost 50,000 tweets, she’s one of the most connected people that I know, and that morning, listening to that newscast, I was scared. As soon as I got to school, I turned on my laptop and read this tweet:
I was thrilled to hear that Amanda and her family were okay, but at the same time, I was so sad to think of all those that weren’t. As I sent off a tweet to Amanda, I realized something: while making many connections with others through Twitter, real relationships have formed too. I’m sorry that it took an event like this to make me reach this conclusion.
Amanda, this blog post is dedicated to you and all of the people in Alabama that are living in the wake of this great tragedy. My thoughts are with all of you. I hope that others will share their thoughts and prayers too.
Aviva
Beautiful! I was going through these emotions too. When I arrived at school to hear colleagues complain of an indoor rainy recess, I replied, “Well at least we aren’t feeling the impacts of a tornado like my friend Amanda.” I got a strange look. It’s hard to explain to non Tweeps that we do connect to each other on line and the connections are real.
Glad to be on Twitter and have real connections with real people.
Angie
Thanks for the comment, Angie! You’re right: it’s great to have these real connections to real people through our Twitter PLN’s!
Aviva
Hi, Aviva. Your post not only shows how caring you are, but how education today is Global. Twitter allows us to connect and have friendships and concerns for others all over the world. This is a great way to teach empathy to students on a real level. I do find myself, like you, creating valuable friendships through Twitter that help in my field. It is so interesting how we can care for someone with the @ in front of their name or handle. Powerful.
Thanks Tim! I absolutely agree with you about “global education.” It’s amazing what real relationships we form online. I’m just sorry that it took such a terrible event to really make me realize this.
Thanks for your comment!
Aviva
Thank you Aviva. It is amazing the connections we have in our network. I did not realize that to some I am Alabama. What has been amazing is the overwhelming support that has been sent via Twitter & blog post. Here we have wall to wall TV coverage and wonder if people elsewhere even know what is happening. As a state we have a long road ahead but the amazing spirits of people give me hope we will come back better than before! Thank you!
Thanks for the comment, Amanda! My thoughts are definitely with you and with “Alabama” right now. I can only imagine what all of you are going through.
All my best,
Aviva
Thanks for caring about our state! It is so devastating to so many. I’m blessed to have my life, my family, our home, and our electricity! There are so many around me that have none of those things.
It does make you realize how important every life that touches you really is. In the wake of these storms, my faith in people is redeemed! Such an outpouring of love and compassion!
Thanks for your comment, Mandee! I’m so glad that you have all of these things too, and I’m so sorry to hear of all of those that don’t. My thoughts are with all of you right now!
Aviva
Thanks so much for posting this. We need your prayers. Everyone I know is safe but so many were not. Yes, twitter creates real relationships. I am so glad to have you in my pln.
I’m so glad to have you in my PLN too! I’m happy to hear that everyone you know is safe, but I realize too that this is not the case for everyone. My thoughts are with all of you right now.
Aviva