The best things in life are surprises.

[rabidsamfan]

Yesterday evening, about half an hour before the library was due to close, I looked up from my computer and saw a familiar face.

The young lady in question still has the incredible smile, and the bright eyes I remember from my old library, and her middle school and high school days. She greeted me, and said she'd made a special trip to say hello, knowing that I'd moved branches. And then she floored me by telling me that she's now a board certified nurse.

Wow!

I'll admit, I was fighting to remember her name. She was never one of the children I had to hush or chide for foolishness on a daily basis. She was one of my homework crew -- the kids who came in with their backpacks and stacks of books and sneaked snacks while they plowed through the mountain. She'd gotten into one of Boston's best schools, and I can remember her and her friends comparing their homework loads. She had dissections in biology, her friends had hand-out sheets. We talked about that, and my memory of how very angry it had made me to realize that some of "my" kids were being cheated of the education they deserved.

She told me about the old neighborhood, and I finally admitted to not remembering her name, and we chatted a while longer before I got my hug and sent her off to work. My night -- my week! -- and probably my next three months are all going to glow now.

Thank you, Sasha! I am so proud of you!

Comments

[dreamflower]

Isn't it great when a child you've helped grows up, and remembers you? And especially when they have made success of their lives, and you can feel that you made a contribution to that success. I don't blame you for glowing! It's a wonderful feeling.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you had this experience, because you totally deserve it. You are a force for learning and good.

[allisona.livejournal.com]

That's really wonderful- I'm really happy for you :). I've had that happen a few times in my teaching career, too, and it's always really encouraging and affirming.

Here's one of my favorite stories: http://allisona.livejournal.com/129268.html

[lame-pegasus.livejournal.com]

How wonderful! *huge smile*

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful experience! Congrats to Sasha and to you for being a good influence on her!

[shirebound]

She went to all that trouble to find you! How marvelous.

[surgicalsteel.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful!

[ancalime8301]

Aw, how sweet of her! :)

[clevertoad.livejournal.com]

Yep, you remember all the faces and the discussions, but the names that stick are the ones you had to use over and over again on the habitual talkers and goofers.

That is something to be proud of, when one of the candles you've lit comes back to warm you with the glow. You work with children because you wanted to make a difference -- you're one of the 'cookie people' and that was a neighborhood where there were a lot of kids who sure needed them. So keep lighting the candles, despite the frustrations of dealing with the admins. Keep kicking the noisy little buggers out when the chaos level gets too high for a library, and keep pulling 'em back in for another try on another day. They'll remember, and you will too.

(And for today, make it home that one last T-stop and hope your tummy improves by tomorrow. I still say that sounds like flu to me. *hugs*)