Gifts I've received during my 25 years of teaching
Finding strength and purpose through the resilience of my youngest students.
I Have Been a Teacher for Over 25 Years
There are always ebbs and flows to each year. I think all teachers will agree with that. However, one of the certainties I can always be thankful for is that I will always have at least a couple of children who teach me valuable lessons about life and strengthen my growth mindset. This school year is no exception, and we have only been in school for one month. I teach at a Catholic Jesuit elementary school in Phoenix. It has a large student population. Among the population, there are some very brave students, two of whom are in my class.
I always tell my parents that bringing their children to my class is a complete privilege that I do not take for granted. This year is no exception. When school started, I noticed that I was missing one of the children on the roster. A few days later, I found out that she had been diagnosed with a serious illness that no three-year-old child would want to deal with, let alone their mother or father. The parents are lovely and told me they would get a hold of me and let me know when she could start.
As the time approached, they wanted to have a meeting with the nurses and me to discuss what was needed to be able to bring this little girl into the classroom. As the parents became seated in the tiny preschool chairs and showed us what was necessary, I couldn't help but notice the sadness and complete exhaustion on their faces. Mom had just had a baby who was only days old, just as beautiful as her big sister and mom.
I noticed the dad, dressed in business clothes and sitting next to Mom, again looking tired and scared just like Mom. As we talked to the parents, I knew I wanted to help this precious little girl because she had such a genuine smile and was so happy to begin coming to our school. I told Mom and Dad and the nurses that I was more than happy to do whatever was necessary to help this little girl. She deserved to have a beautiful life, and whatever it took to help Mom and Dad, I was more than cooperative.
In listening to this little girl's story, I had such a peaceful feeling about her and her journey. My own older sister was diagnosed with the same thing early in her life, and her journey—the journey we all went through together—was not an easy one. It was full of scary nights, crying, and watching her go through things you would never wish on a loved one. Because of watching my sister's journey, I felt very confident that I could help this little girl feel safe and happy and become willing to trust me, even though I was a stranger to her. Her journey has not been easy, but she is handling it like a warrior. I am so incredibly proud of her.
While dealing with this little girl, I received an email from another parent with a child in my class. This little girl had started school, so I was able to get to know her a bit. This child had been taken to the children's hospital with, again, another painful illness, and they weren't sure what was going on with her. I was told she would be out for a week. The children in my class pray for each of these girls every day. When children are three, they don't always grasp prayer or the power that comes with it, but they were willing to do it.
Towards the end of this little girl's stay, she made a turn for the better. I asked her parents if we could FaceTime her in the hospital to say hi and deliver some "medicine to her heart." They were thrilled that we connected. She was so excited as I took the camera around and let her say hi to each new friend. She had a peaceful look on her face, along with a huge smile from ear to ear. That smile was one I had not even seen on her yet, as she hadn't been feeling well for a while. She is due back to school soon.
What gifts and life lessons I have learned, as well as my class. I do believe I was put with these two children to help them as part of a village of people who love and care for them. Their bravery comes in a bigger size than their little bodies. I will always continue to believe in the power of prayer, and I saw firsthand the looks on the children's faces when they saw their friends getting to feel better. As one of the children told me, "God listened to my prayer. I'm happy."
