End of year 2...

The end of year # 2 comes tomorrow. So much to reflect upon, so much I have learned, and so much learning to continue. Tomorrow there are 3 seniors graduating including the one pictured. I am SO proud. To see them today get their caps/gowns and be so excited/nervous was a sight I will never forget. For all of them, this is THE milestone in their educational career and I am honored to be a part of it.

I have a lot to share, a lot to reflect upon and a lot to learn and I am sure it will all come out at some point. But, when I think about these young people graduate, I get nothing but tears in my eyes. This is a life changing moment for them and their future. I am SO excited for graduation tomorrow-a true "first" in my life!

Community

Defines the school community in which I work...

"A supportive community is as fundamental to the well-being of our spirit as a healthy mind or body. Our community is the place that welcomes and embraces us in the world. It demands of us care and commitment, and in exchange for this we receive a group of people who are there to praise us when we do well and help us when we falter. It is the space where we are validated, where we are seen and respected as who we are, instead of being admired or rejected according to the standards of a world of strangers. When we fall out of grace, the community makes our failure bearable. Again and again we fall from grace, and then we heal with the support of those around us. As we live our lives, this is what creates and defines our community." - Sobonfu E. Some.

Heart filled with pride...

This year is a bit different than last because I have 3 students graduating. My heart has been filled with immense pride the last few days-moments like this:

• A 5th year senior presenting on the Holocaust, telling teachers he knew nothing about it before this year, relating it to his life and Oakland, and reflecting on his journey through high school. All of us teachers had tears in our eyes at the end of his presentation.
• Another senior writing me a letter that filled my eyes with tears (see below for text).
• Seeing seniors "own" their work and take responsibility for it.

This is why I teach and this is why I specifically teach in Oakland...

I want to thank you for all that you done for me this year. You have taught me how to advocate for myself. Before I met you I didn’t know how to stand up for myself. You are an amazing person and I thank God for sending you to help me. I only have one class with you but I have learned so much just seeing you once a day for class.

I appreciate everything that you do for me and I know that you don’t have to. You are a very kind person with a beautiful heart. It made me feel good to know that you cared so much about me and what I have to say. I have never met a teacher like you ,ever in all of my nineteen years of life.

When I didn’t understand something you were there to help me. You made it clear for me and there I can only say thank you. When I felt like I couldn’t make it in my English class you were there to help me with her work. You spoke with her to make things simple for me. I was so happy that you did this for me I will never forget that it was you that helped me reach the point at where I am now. When I needed help with work outside of your class you spoke with some of my teachers and helped me with my work. I am very grateful that I came to (school name) and met you. Your this amazing person that doesn’t mind helping. Being around you I feel smart not slow like some people say that I am. I feel like I can do anything. You make learning fun and interesting and when I am around you I can be me the funny person that I am around my family. I am so happy that I got to meet a wonderful person like you that really cares about me and my goals. You never said I couldn’t but you were to say that I can do it. When I felt like giving up you were there to say that I can do it. When I had a question you were there to answer it. Yes we have had our ups and downs but you still never gave up on me and there fore I can only say thank you. When I first met you I knew that moment that you would be the right teacher for me that was going to help me become a better me. I thank you for all the help that you given me. You showed me that I can do things without help from others as well as use the help from others. With you I have a voice and I never felt that I had one before. I always thought I was to do what people expected of me to do, not beyond that. Having you as my teacher I knew that you wanted more from me because I could do more. I am proud that I got to learn from you. I have learned that I have a voice and all have to do is be clear and speak up. You taught me how to use my voice to get what I need and there I can only say thank you for helping me out. I know that that the skills you have taught me will come in hand because they are life long skills that I know I need. I appreciate all that you have done for me and what you still do for me now. At the beginning of the year my scheduler was mixed up it was you that helped me get in the right classes you mean so much to me. I know you didn’t have to it but you did and I want to say thank you. I would still be in the wrong classes and classes that I didn’t need if it wasn’t for you. I thank you for being there to talk with my teachers when I was failing behind. Thank you for not getting mad at me when I did stupid stuff. I appreciate you staying by my side to help me and make sure that I understand what I was doing so that I wouldn’t be confused and lost.

No words to describe my heart...

Today was another day I will never forget....I am saddened, upset, frustrated and most of all determined to continue to show my students endless amounts of love and support...short story is that one of my students told me last week about a sexual assault and today I found out more details. This young person endured a very scary situation in which I am thankful they are alive, at least physically.

It reminded me yet again how crucial the work I am doing is...and how much trust this individual has in me that they would tell me, and only me (of course I had to report it)...

So because I am speechless, distraught, upset...I am going to turn it over to the sermon at my church this past weekend...

The series is called 'Honorology' and one of the main points is that we can elevate others with honor...

"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." -Romans 12: 9-10

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. -Ephesians 4:29

I will continue to shower my students with honor...shower them with kindness-I just never know how far that can go...

Lots of love