Saturday, March 4, 2017

Yes. I do love "those basketball boys"

I feel like I've written about this before, but I just have to say it again: I sure do wish people who comment about me teaching at Varina would come into my classroom for just ONE day. ONE day. And see how awesome my kids are. 

Recently, I was engaged in one of those painful "small talk" conversations, and naturally, the person to whom I was speaking asked what I do for a living. "Oh, I'm a teacher."
The next question is always, "What grade do you teach?"

When I answer, "I teach 11th grade English at Varina" the usual response is raised eyebrows and wide-open eyes. About half the time, the person asks something along these lines: "But isn't that hard being so young/being a young female/teaching teenagers who are bigger than you?"

I never know quite what to say. Because I get irritated. Because there are so many underlying assumptions being made, both about me and about the school at which I teach.

First of all, if you know me AT ALL, you know I am NOT intimidated. By anyone. Or anything. I will go toe to toe with anyone. I am feisty as hell, and I don't back down easily. So no- I am not scared of my students, whether they're a 5'2" girl or a 6'7" boy.

Additionally, you don't know my kids. I chose to teach at Varina for a reason. I choose to stay there every year for 120 reasons: my kids. People have said, "You'll have kids anywhere you go. They're all the same." I don't think so. I interact with kids from other schools, and I'll take my Varina kids any day.

Here is a prime example: our boys' basketball team.

I've had the privilege of teaching half of the team (literally), so naturally, I became pretty invested in their games this year. In fact, I think I only missed two or three.

The best part about these young men for me, though, is not that they can almost all dunk or that they play tenacious defense or that they have an impressive win-loss record.

No way. It's the people they are off the court.

Our amazing academic advisor and dear friend of mine sent out an email asking teachers to write "good luck" notes to these boys because they made it to STATES (first time in 16 years for our program). As I began to pen my notes, I realized I may as well just write one to every kid on the team.

So earlier this week during 5th block, some of the boys were swinging by the room to pick up their notes. After reading them, they were like, "Aw, thank you, Mrs. Suders! We appreciate your support!" and gave me side hugs and asked me, "Are you coming Friday?" They played  in the State quarterfinals in Hampton last night.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," I answered.

When the boys left my room, my class commented with somewhat of an attitude, "Wow, you sure looooooove  those basketball boys, don't you?"

I paused for a second. Then: "Yes. Yes I do. And do you want to know why? They are polite to me. They are kind to me. They are respectful to me. They let me know they appreciate my support and love. They are great kids. So yes, I do love them."

I left out the part where they found out my mom and dad were coming to a game. "What's your dad's name? George? Can I call him 'Mr. George' and your mom 'Miss Anne'?" And they came and greeted my parents after their game, and they shook my dad's hand and hugged my mom.

They greet me on the sidewalk and ask how I'm doing.
They open doors for me if my hands are full.
The other day when I was carrying four bags of snacks to my room, one of them shouted across the sidewalk, "Mrs. Suders, can I help you?"
They ask me to help them study for their SAT and ACT tests.
When I give them mini lectures about their manners or their choices, they (usually) listen and admit I have a point.
Two of them made a special trip  to my room the morning after my 12-week midwife appointment to ask how it went and if the baby was ok.
Four of them are currently debating who gets to be my baby's uncle, cousin, godfather, grandpa, coach...
Almost all of them spoke to me and the other teachers (and my mom) after a tough loss in the state quarterfinals last night. "Thank you for coming." " Thank you for your suppor this season." "Thank you for everything."

The fact that they happen to be talented athletes is icing on the cake. Y'all know I LOOOOVE sports. I love the competition, the athleticism, the underdog story, the Cinderella story. I thrive on it. So, yes, it's awesome to be able to attend their games and support them.

Honestly, though, the basketball boys have my love because of the PEOPLE they are. They are sure not perfect (ask my student who gets his phone taken on the regular, haha).

But they, like the vast majority of my students, are hella good kids whom I love to pieces and would do anything for.

And I bet you would, too, if you knew them like I do.