my child
When I first started teaching at North Atlanta, there was a student in my first period class that I just could not get through to. She was late to school every day, never did her homework, and appeared very sullen. On the other hand, she was never disruptive; she just slept through class most of the time.Something changed in the course of that semester, though, and she adopted me. She just decided that I was going to be her mentor and her champion. I've tried, but it is hard. I love this child. She has a hard life. I have cried over her and her future many times. Many times over the last three years I have wondered if she will make it to college and if she does, whether she will have the necessary basic skills to survive there.
She's an amazing kid though- she knows that the cards are stacked against her and has created an amazing network of support at North Atlanta. Most administrators eat out of her hands- thankfully, since they are constantly bailing her out of trouble. She has a sweet spirit. She gets angry, very angry, but doesn't fight. She's learned to apologize after she calms down when she is disrespectful to adults. I hope that people will surround her and love her when she gets to college. She won't make it without that.
I say when because my confidence that she will make it is growing. One more year to go. Sure, I have to sit in as her parent at parent teacher conferences. And of course, I have to schedule one at the end of every semester in order to bail out her failing grades. She can do the work, but she has no resources. I dropped her off at the public library yesterday on my way home after she had called her mom to make sure there was enough gas in the car to come pick her up. I need to go buy her summer reading books. Her track coach bought her prom dress and she was beautiful in it.
She will make it to college because she is an amazing athlete. I have often wanted to blog about her, but have not. This time, I am so proud of her that I can't refrain. She won the 800 at the state track meet with a 2:17 with a stomach virus, second in the 300m hurdles and third in the 200. Her 4x400 relay team set a state record and her 4x100 relay won second. She beat a teammate who already has a scholarship to South Carolina in the 200m.
I doubt she has any idea how proud I am of her.
Labels: teaching
posted by CP @ 9:03 PM
2 thoughts
2 Comments:
wow...what an amazing story. you do a great work, courtney.
i realize you're posting because of your pride over this girl, but she hasn't done it in a vacuum, obviously. you are a shining star.
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