It’s Not About What She Can’t Do One day, a female student walked into my classroom carrying something heavy and awkward. I asked if she needed help. Her response caught me off guard: “Why does everyone think I need help? My boyfriend’s parents don’t think I can carry heavy things either.” I paused. Her words felt more like a defense than a reply. I gently asked what she meant. I explained that I wasn’t trying to insult her—I simply noticed she was carrying something that looked heavy, and I was offering help to lighten her load. That’s it. She seemed surprised by my explanation. Then she shared a story. She’d…