Teacher Appreciation Week 2011

[#1]

What I learned as a new teacher in that first year is to never underestimate the effect you can have on a child.  About 10 years before I had began teaching I had come upon a car accident where the mother was trapped in the car and her little girl standing outside of the car crying.  I stopped my car and held onto the little girl who looked to be about five or six years old, while the EMS workers tried to help her mother.  Sadly, the mother did not make it and I stayed with the child until her family arrived on the scene.  She didnt want to let go so I stayed a little while longer until she fell asleep in my lap.  The family asked me to attend the funeral and I kept in touch for a little while.    My first day teaching it was to a class of high school juniors and seniors.  At the end of first period the bell rang and a blonde young lady hung behind and asked to speak with me for a minute.  She said "Do you know my name" and I told her there was no possible way I could remember it after the first day she would have to give me a week.  She said her name first and last again and when I really looked at her this time I realized it was the same little girl from the accident.  She told me how she never forgot my name and never would.  I never realized how much these kids will hold onto and how one small thing can stay with them forever.  It was a great lesson for me to remember what I say and what I do in the classroom because they look to us to guide them.  That young lady told me stories all year long of things she does to help others as a result of what I did for her which I didnt really think was so much. 

[#2]

Ok.  You made me cry!