For those of you that have read my blog before, you know that I got to work with a student last year that touched my heart in a big way! This year I've gotten to keep in contact with him just a little bit... I've sent him cards that I hear he loves (HINT: Find the most ANNOYING music card, send with quick note, and find out how much child will love it!) I've made it over to the school to visit a couple times, but still nothing like what it was like working with him everyday.
Well (technically it was Friday afternoon) I got a text message from an old co-worker/friend who was working with him. She had told me that he was having a bad afternoon and wanted to know if I wanted to chat with him. OF COURSE I SAID OF COURSE!!!!! Well, he was a little embarrassed and shy because he wasn't exactly in the best space emotionally. It was random, but kind of encouraging....
Anyway, my night went on, same old, same old (Friday night= cleaning room, putting clothes away, looking at my school to-do list, etc etc) and my phone rings.... "Hi this is blah blah blah from [Place where kid lives] I have A here, and he would like to talk to you."
I talked to my little friend for 25 minutes. It was the first time he had taken advantage of having my number in about a year, and we chatted about pillow pets, letters I'd sent him, cards that he has kept, friends and school, what to do when we're having bad days, etc, etc."
I hung up the phone with him and was just in this excited-confused-humbled-encouraged state. Knowing that I wouldn't get to see him everyday was heartbreaking at the end of last year. Never did I think that a kid, a 4th grader at the time, would touch my heart that way. Even more than that, knowing that 9 months later, he still remembers me and wants to call me on a Friday night and chat about nothing and everything at the same time is SO SO humbling and encouraging.
As I've trudged through the credential program, there have been points where the only reason I want to be a teacher is simply because I can "be good at it." I mean, I think everyone is looking for some sort of job that they can be good at, that at times it seems so natural and innate that it doesn't require a whole lot of investment. I've sort of developed an idea of what a job should be based on your ability to participate in "other life" outside of it. For example, finding a job where you can still play sports, invest in friends and family, volunteer for a youth group/club/etc.
But this Friday night phone call reminded me in a big way of why I truly, whole-heartily want to be a teacher for the rest of my life (until I retire at least...). The reality is that kids are the future of tomorrow. Don't be hatin' cliches have truth. As a teacher, I have an opportunity to affect and love kids and make them believe even if for a small minute that they matter to someone. My hope and dream of being a teacher is that I make an impact on at least one kid that sticks with them for a lifetime. Often times, teachers talk about "one kid" who changed it all for them, and this little guy has definitely started a change in me.
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