Counseling Connections: Snowflake Bentley (Perseverance)

Snowflake Bentley is a biography about the life of Wilson Bentley, a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of snowflakes and studied their uniqueness. While other children built forts and pelted snowballs at roosting crows, Willie used an old microscope to look at flowers, raindrops, blades of grass, and snow. Willie's parents bought him a camera that made it possible for him to photograph the snowflakes. His first pictures were failures but mistake by mistake, snowflake by snowflake, Willie worked through every storm. Even though Willie didn't give up, that winter ended and he still wasn't able to accomplish his goal. He finally accomplished his goal the second winter, but he still faced obstacles. Sometimes the snowflakes were broken and he had to wait hours before finding one that was just right. If the shed was warm, the snow would melt. If he twitched a muscle, the snowflake would break. If he didn't work carefully and quickly the snowflakes would evaporate. Willie's work was greatly respected near the end of his life. He came to be known as the world's expert on snow and other scientists raised money to help him publish his book. I have used this book to teach two different lessons. The first lesson is on Diversity and the second is on Perseverance. You can purchase the book HERE.