Speak Life

Today's the day before Thanksgiving break, and I'm not going to lie: I did not want to work today. I wanted to stay at home on my couch reading Inkheart or watching a Harry Potter movie.

This morning before school, one of my students brought me a thank you note today that just said, "Thank you, Mrs. Suders"...and that was all. Frankly, when I saw it, I was a little disappointed. I wasn't prepared for what came next.

She handed me the paper.  "I wanted to write you a thank you note, but I didn't know exactly how to word it, so I just wanted to come to you and tell you in person," she said, pausing to take a deep breath. "Thank you for telling us that we're just as good as the other schools and that we're not bad..."

At this point, she began tearing up; her voice broke, and her lower lip started to tremble, so I blinked back tears and stood up to hug her.

So often, my students are told they are "bad" because they go to this high school. People don't have high expectations for them because of their skin color or the fact they attend an "East End" school. I am guilty of falling into this mindset sometimes, but today, I was reminded that it's a self-fulfilling prophesy.
 If I treat my students like they are "bad" kids, if I have low expectations for them, then I am failing at my job. For some, I might be the only person who believes in them, who cares enough about them to push them, and who really does think they can graduate high school or go to college or go into the military or be anything other than a drug dealer or thief.

It's my job, my calling, to speak words of life to them and to uplift them and encourage them, NOT to tear them down.

I am SO thankful for this amazing student who reminded me of the awesome responsibility I have as a teacher. THIS is why I teach. Today, I am humble. Today, I am thankful.