And Then This Happens...

Some days I really hate teaching.  It's raining outside, actually it's POURING outside!  Since we rarely get rain in So Cal, the kids act like lunatics.  They come running inside to get out of the rain, but then get stir crazy from being inside all day.  It's really a vicious cycle.  Anyway, today my ELD classes were acting like circus animals and my 10th Grade English kids were taking a quiz and had like 7,000 questions....even though I went over ALL the questions as soon as I passed it out.  The question "Mrs. Brownell, what does "conspirator" mean?"  was literally asked 15 times per class.  I'm pretty sure steam was coming out of my ears.

Anyway, there is usually something everyday that reminds that I actually love teaching. If there isn't something that happens that specific day, then I look on the inside of my cabinet for reassurance.  (I hang most of the the notes and letters that I get from students on the inside of the cabinet behind my desk.  Some are cheesy and some are amazing.)  After a glance, I remember that they need me and that I am making a difference one student at a time....

So, anyway, today I was highly relying on my notes.  My sweet sweet notes from sweet sweet students.  Then, as a student was walking out of 4th period, she handed me a note that made me shut the whining up!!!!

I was having a bad day, and then THIS HAPPENED....

The black hole in my heart that is supposed to house a heart seriously swelled.   I felt like the Grinch.  

She handed me the letter as she was walking out of the room, so I didn't get a chance to thank her.  The letter might be hard to read, but the general gist of it is that her mom died TWO DAYS ago, and she would have to move to the east coast next week.  In this time of hardship, she took the time to write me a letter thanking me for all I had taught her and to tell me that she really enjoyed my class.

I melt.