This is from the woman who made me cry yelling at me a few weeks ago…

“Hi
First I am sorry if I made you cry but I’m sure you can understand my situation. I cry too, because it’s just me doing it all, and it is frustrating.
I wanted to thank you for helping B and for being so understanding. Too many teacher are apathetic and are unwilling to put out the effort ( then why teach? ). I don’t think they see that the effort they make can change a life. Thank you! because you did make the effort and it has eased Bri’s life immeasureably. She tells me about the fun she has in your room and about being the “8th period class”… honestly she is eating it up.
You know my back ground, I believe any time spent on a kid is never wasted time. You have made an impact that will have a lasting effect. Thank you. Now if you could just give lessons to some of the other teachers, and administrators at that school. Oh well ( heavy sigh…) Know that you are changing the world one person at a time but that person will go on and change the lives of others. Pretty amazin’

Thank you so very much- N

P.S. Coffee some time?

PPS keep this letter for those days when you forget why you teach…so you will rememeber the remarkable thing you are doing.”

I’ll keep the letter.

This student is chronically ill and has had a miserable time trying to keep up with school work in between hospital trips. She is also a very depressed cutter from a poor family and she has to work to help pay the rent. In between her job and trying to catch up on school work she has been starting to make herself sick again. I told her to just not worry about it till after Christmas when things slow down at work cause I have faith she can catch up then. I think that’s why her mom sent the letter.