Grab yourself a cup of tea or hot chocolate, or coffee, if you insist. Find a comfortable seat and settle in. You’re about to read an epic, allegorical story of a plant and students. Rupert,
the red pepper plant
It all started on a warm day back in May 2019. As I often do, that day I walked up the stairs from my office on the third floor of the Robert Bell Building at Ball State University to the Computer Science department office which is located on the fourth floor. As I got to the top of the stairs, I discovered a small clay pot with an even smaller plant in it sitting on the windowsill. Read on to find out what became of the plant, and what that has to do with students.
Rupert's birth
Not having any idea why there was a plant on the windowsill, or who placed it there, I decided to start a conversation via sticky-notes. I wrote a message and stuck it on the windowsill in front of the pot, and left a pad of sticky-notes and a pen laying on the windowsill. I soon had a response, so I continued the conversation, a transcription of which follows.
Me (M): Hello little plant. What are you going to be when you grow up?
Response (R): Big pepper.
M: What color?
R: Red!
M: Do you have a name you prefer to be called by?
R: Rupert!
M: Interesting name. Is there a story behind it?
R: Yes.
At this point, a third person (P) entered the conversation, providing what turned out to be rather prophetic advice. I’ve simply labeled the posts from all others as (P) from here on out.
P: Grow little plant grow!! Stay healthy.
Intrigued and amused by the exchange thus far, I continued the conversation.
M: What is the story?
R: I know a dog named Rupert (signed Rose, 7)
M: Rupert, is someone giving you the water you need?
R: Yes! I am being taken care of! Thank you for asking though!
Rupert's early life
By now, it’s June, and a few others entered the conversation. (The chronological sequence of these messages is not likely as listed.)
P: Dear Rupert, we are so happy you are growing. Enjoy the dead bug next to you.
P: You are a light in darkness.
P: I C U R still hangin in there Rupert!!
P: Plant a seed. Watch it grow by watering it and the sun from God up above. Plant called Lyfe, pronounced Life.
M: Rupert, congrats on your new leaves!
P: Grow for me!
M: I See you’ve grown a couple more leaves since I saw you last week!
P: Rupert hopes to grow up to be Seymore. Hopes to see everyone then.
P: I hope it’s not Audrey II.
P: Happy first day of summer, Rupert/Seymore!
Rupert made it through the excitement of Independence Day, and now had quite a few leaves. Lots of new messages had been left as well. A few of which were dated.
P: Rupert! You look lovely!
P: I hope you grow well.
P: Atta boi Rupert! I have no idea what you are but I’m excited to see you grow.
P: You’re my hero!
P: Rupert, you can do this! (Don’t die!)
P: Good to see you’re still with us Rupert!
P: Share the love!
P: Your pot needs rotated x1 per day or you will grow lopsided.
M: Rupert! It looks like you got thirsty. (07/16/2019)
P: One must imagine Sisyphus smiling.
P: Go plant go!
P: Be happy little plant.
P: Rupert, where do you see yourself in 5 years?
M: Rupert! It looks like you got thirsty. (07/26/2019)
P: Rupert, I love you and would die for you. You’re doing amazing buddy. Keep growing. (08/27/2019)
Rupert's demise
But then tragedy strikes during September 25-26, 2019.
P: WATER YOUR PLANT.
P: This bug has more life than me.
P: [F]
P: RIP
P: Why is the bug literally me?
P: We should take a lesson from this plant and realize that our relations need love and nurturing to grow!
P: RIP friend.
P: NO!
P: Poor plant.
Rupert's resurrection
For whatever reason, no one chose to remove the leafless body of Rupert or the notes that had been left. And then suddenly—eight days later—there was new growth!
M: New growth!!!
P: I can get past being thirsty and I hope y’all can too.
P: You’re doing great sweetie!
P: We are cool.
P: Ah, ah, ah, ah, staying alive, staying alive.
Rupert gives birth?!?
So then my Mom and I decided to have a bit of fun. She provided me one of the red peppers she had grown in her garden, and I left it in the pot with a note on it.
M: So, this pepper showed up last night. I asked Rupert if it was his, but he wouldn’t respond, other than to say he hopes someone will take it and enjoy it. (10/07/2019)
P: Thanks Rupert. I loved the pepper. You are a cutie.
P: Rupert is like baby Groot!
P: Grow!! We watered you.
P: Hope you’re enjoying the new fall weather Rupert.
P: This note made possible by destroying Rupert’s parent tree. Thank you, deforestation.
P: I love plants. This made my day.
P: LIVE!!!
P: We be-leaf in ya.
P: Grow through what you go through little man.
P: I’ve only just met Rupert, and I am in love, I would do anything for Rupert. Rupert is everything.
P: I envy Rupert! He’s living the life I want to live! #inspiration
P: I love you Rupert!
P: Hang in there Rupert.
P: Dearly beloved Rupert. You’re doing amazing. We believe in you. We love you. We cherish you.
P: Grow on Rupert.
P You got dis!
P: I'm glad to see Rupert is coming back to LIFE!!!
P: Tuesday, Oct 29: I added some water since soil looked dry.
Rupert's year-end celebration
So, by now we’ve reached the end of 2019, and this thing has obviously taken on a life of its own, with relatively little input from me after the first few days.
P: Happy new year!!
P: Go little plant go.
P: I gave Rupert some water. 12/27/19 –Janitor Joe.
P: Thank you Janitor Joe
P: Happy Holidays!
P: It’s been a roller coaster semester. First you were great, then you almost died, now you’re good again. Keep going Rupert.
P: Rupert!!! Juan was here.
P: Y’all crazy.
P: Thank you for being something I could look forward to seeing. Dec 5
P: Stay safe this winter, friend. May your caretaker take you home over break.
P: Go Head Rupert!!! Good to see you’re still here with us.
P: Photosynthesis
P: Let’s go, Plantboi!
P: My Rupert, nice to see you’re still doing well.
P: God making sure Rupert is OK.
P: Happy semester break everyone!!
Rupert starts a new semester
Fortunately, Rupert survived the break, and we continued into spring semester!
P: Who waters Rupert and how often? 1/8/2020
P: I have a class up here now MWF ending 1 PM, and I’ve started watering him after class. Not flooding it. 1/13/20.
P: Neat origami.
P: Keep on keeping on, Rupert.
P: Survive. You got this boyyyy.
P: I only came up to fourth floor to see Rupert.
P: Just keep growing. Just keep growing. Just keep growing growing growing.
P: Lydia and Ashlen love you.
P: Rupert can get this DUMPY!
P: This is my first time meeting Rupert… I am honored to be in the presence of such a legend… Love you Ru. Grow strong!
P: What it do Rupert?
P: Grow up!
P: Rupert, you were my first love. I fell for you like a child. You must live or I don’t think I will make it in this cruel world without you.
P: Rupert loves my SQL.
P: Watch BSU Tonight.
P: We are happy to see you are inspiring so many students. Keep growing big and strong.
Rupert's birthday
And today a large piece of paper appeared with an important announcement.
Save the date to celebrate! A big party for a resilient little plant. Rupert’s birthday is April 27th. Watch this space for more information coming soon.
After nine months, a simple conversation I started with an unknown person has expanded to include many more people. I’m guessing (based on handwriting) there have been a dozen or two different people who have participated in the conversation, and almost certainly many dozens more who have stopped for a moment and read the messages. A community of caring people has formed, although I have no idea who any of the other people are, and I suspect that is true for them as well. Yet we’ve all come together to nurture and encourage this one little plant, and dare I say, each other.
Is this about more than a plant?
So, what can we learn from this experience? What if we were to imagine that Rupert the red pepper plant was one of our students? Do we show as much care and concern for them? What if we don’t make the effort to help them to learn? Might they then shrivel up and withdraw, like Rupert?
How many times have we given up on a student that was too far behind to catch up, just wasn’t getting it, or was too needy? Once Rupert dropped all of his leaves, I suspect we all thought that was the end of the plant. Yet one of us decided to continue watering it. And a week later, new growth appeared. What if we keep working with those struggling students—who might have even given up on themselves—to help them through the tough parts of their days and lives, whether that be our course content, or helping them juggle priorities in their life.
What if we involve others to help support the student as well, just like the community that has formed around Rupert. Then we can all celebrate the student’s success—completing an assignment, a course, a semester, or a degree—just like we’re going to celebrate Rupert’s birthday in a few weeks.
When asked what I do, I like to say that I strive to turn on light bulbs. By this I’m referring to those “ah ha” moments learners have when something suddenly makes sense. Maybe I also need to say that I strive to keep things adequately watered and nurtured.
How about you? What are you doing to nurture those with whom you come into contact?
