As a retired teacher I often wonder how my students are doing. Since I taught 1st grade, I figured most would forget me. I assume that children tend to remember their middle school or high school teachers more than a teacher from their younger days.
As an educator you sometimes wonder if you made a difference.
Therefore you can imagine my delight when one of my students actually found me and then my blog. She sent me an e-mail yesterday updating me on what was going on with her life.
"...How are you doing in Hawaii? You sound great from what I've seen in your blog. The weather here is terrible! I could use a trip to Hawaii. Hopefully spring is on the horizon.
I don't even know where to start with this update, but here goes. I'm a sophomore now. My freshman year was great and I absolutely love the school. I'm actually taking Japanese now! I still remember the day when you brought in items of your Hawaiian and Japanese heritage in 1st grade. And when we talked to your son by speakerphone and learned all about Mali. Both of those things, as little as they were, actually left a really big impact on me. For example, I know Peace Corps is a huge leap, but I am definitely interested in looking into it for the future. And I have loved taking Japanese! I'm hosting a student from Japan in a few weeks and I'm super excited..." All my students showed golden promise. Many excelled even though they had too many burdens placed on them. There were also those special students who you knew would blossom and fly off into the world gifted with determination and talent. Art used to volunteer (editing my students' writing with them one on one) the year this beautiful girl was in my class.
We knew back then that here was a child who could and would do anything she set her mind to and that she would make a difference in this world.
I'm still grinning... ear to ear.
It's always a thrill to hear from a former student, isn't it, and to be told of the impact you weren't aware you'd made.
ReplyDeleteWhat a special student to look you up and tell you what an impact you had on her! She sounds delightful....what a delightful surprise for you! I am also a retired teacher and occasionally I hear from a former student and I'm surprised at things they remember I said that encouraged them, yet I don't remember it.
ReplyDeleteHow neat to connect with a former first grader. Of course we remember our first teachers, but I think it is amazing you remember your many students. That is neat.
ReplyDeleteMy first grade teacher was not the best and helped to foster a negative trait in me that I carry to day. My second grade teacher is the one I remember the most with extreme fondness.
Teachers so have the power.
how sweet. I taught first grade too for four years and I remember my first grade teacher's name Mrs. Anderson even though it was over 53 years ago...lol!
ReplyDeleteoh such a heartwarming post today Kay, makes me teary-eyed. I love your blog header, the colours are phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteThis is so wonderful a moment for all of you. Marvelous.
ReplyDeleteHow delightful to hear from one of your former pupils. It's always good to discover what they're doing and your young lady was obviously deeply influenced by you.
ReplyDeleteWell done to you - and well done to her:-)
What a lovely tribute from your former student. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful story. So good of your former student to contact you and let you know what she is doing. And doing lots, sounds like.
ReplyDeleteMany of my former students have found me on Facebook and friended me. It's fun to keep up with what they are doing.
I am sure when you were a teacher you had a good influence on your students, especially in terms of Japanese! I assure she is proud of you:)
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Kay. She sounds like a special student, but I'm sure many more of them would like to tell you how you influenced their lives and their choices.
ReplyDeleteLike the previous commenter, Dick has had many of his former students (grades 5 and 6) find him and friend him on Facebook.
My aunt taught grade 1 for more than 40 years, so she taught one generation after another. Parents often said, "Mrs. Davies, do you remember me from your class?"
Good teachers make such an impact on their students. I stayed in touch with some of mine from high school, and some still come to our grad reunions. It's wonderful, and we're so happy to see them.
Knowing you, I know you are one of those teachers your students would be thrilled to see again.
-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
How wonderful to meet a former pupil! I haven't met any of my former students yet. Well that was a long time ago, 45 years. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteA super exciting experience. I can tell you for sure my first grade teacher is the teacher I remember most. She was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting. It must feel good knowing you made such a wonderful impression. 52 years later, I still remember my first grade teacher. I don't see how anyone could ever forget such an important person from their past.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of my former students have contacted me through Facebook. It is incredible to know that what we did then is still making a positive impact now.
ReplyDeleteKay, that is just so awesome that your former student found you on your blog!! I love that story!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet reward for you to hear this from a former student! You really touched her life.
ReplyDeleteI bet you are still grinning from ear to ear. What a nice thing for her to do, and so nice for you to hear what she remembers.
ReplyDeleteI remember my first grade teacher, but not so fondly. I mostly remember her hitting kids on the knuckles with a ruler :(
Yes, that is the thing about teaching, you don't know what your effect has been. So when this sort of thing happens it is a wonderful bonus.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to be rediscovered by one of your former students, and to hear such good things. Very heartwarming.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a joy to hear from our students!!! You obviously really affected their lives!!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful, Kay! And it happened because of your blog, which gave her (and so many of us) a little peek into your life. If you have this one comment from a former student, think how many you have impacted in a positive way that you haven't heard from!
ReplyDeleteKay, a teacher educator like you will NEVER be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could find my beloved teachers from Chicago pubic schools, if they are still alive. They really shaped me. But how to search when you don't know first names. They were all Mrs. or Miss or rarely, Mr. Whatever.
God bless the teachers.
how COOL is that? I call that kind of thing the butterfly effect.
ReplyDeleteMy cousin in Texas is a retired elementary school teacher and is on facebook. She has heard from a lot of old students and is so thrilled to be in touch with them. As for my kids, I still think their best and favorite teacher was the first grade teacher.
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