I didn't get much hands on interaction with the students today. They were at their desks with laptops in front of them, doing career assessment tests. I did have a riveting moment during bell work, though. The students were prompted to write about their first day at their ideal jobs. One student, the brilliant girl who won't be able to attend college here because she is illegal, blew me away. She described her first day as a kindergarten teacher. She literally painted a picture for the class, with phrases like, "cries of excitement and tears of fear," "jumbo crayons made for tiny hands," "assuring parents and children alike that everything will be okay." When she was done, the entire class applauded her. One classmate said, "Now THAT was hard!" 'Hard' means she really really liked it, and so did the huge grin she had on her face. The future kindergarten teacher also turned in her outline for her college essay. She's going to discuss the strength she has knowing that she is illegal, that she lives in a country that doesn't owe her anything, and will receive no benefits, no matter how hard she works. And she works so hard. I admire her so much!
Another great moment I had was when one student chose a topic I had suggested to him: "My Life in Africa." I'd told him he'd write a powerful essay with that topic, and he fought me on it at first. He said, in his beautiful French accent, "I can't write bout that, Mih Weavah. It touch my heart, too much." I told him that struggle really stands out to college admissions panels, and that his unique story, no matter how painful, wouldn't be like the other thousands of people applying to college.
I came back from two days of professional development and MTR activities, and I saw he had completed a wonderful essay while I was away. This was the same student I talked to about whether he should go straight to college, or try to make it playing professional soccer overseas in order to help out his mother. I feel like the time I took to talk to him about his goals helped give him a little more strength to pour out the pain that echoes in the essay he wrote. I'm starting to experience the power of relational capacity very intensely. Like Flip Flippen (yes, that's his real name, google him,) says, "If you have a child's heart, you have his mind." This kid is no child, he's 19, actually. But he would have written another "I love soccer" essay that would have gotten tossed to the side if I hadn't been adamant about letting him know his story was meaningful. It took strength and courage for him to share what he did in those 500 words.
This is what I've been looking forward to. Being an inspiration is one thing, but to be inspired by my students gives me so much... *snaps finger repeatedly* I can't figure out the word. I guess fuel is the best way to describe it. People look at Memphis City Schools' kids and don't think about how much they can do, and they really don't think about how much these kids want out of life. Maybe that's why these students are pushed to the side... I'm going to make sure they're not overlooked anymore. Even the ones that don't yet realize how potent their dreams can be deserve this attention; if I can do anything to help them get closer to their almost palpable dreams, I am more than willing.
Many more of them turned in their rough drafts for their college essays. I had to keep myself from reading them during my planning period. I want to really devote some time when editing their papers, and make sure I really read them before I start making corrections. I was saving them for after dinner, kind of like dessert!
I've really found my passion. I want to do any and everything I need to so that I am the best servant to Christ and these children. With that said, I know there are serious changes I need to make. I need to plan better so that they get the best lessons possible. I need to stop procrastinating so that my mind is as clear as it can be. I need to make myself more available in general; this means getting rid of clutter and distractions so that I'm always ready to perform at my optimal level. I'll use the word my KK teacher 6 years from now used to describe the most recent part of her life in her outline: enlightened.
I'm still excited.
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