Something To Chew On
May 21-27, 2018
Teach your children
By Becca Bona
becca@dailydata.com
The only time I was sent to the principal’s office in elementary school coincided with my side-hustle. Namely, I had convinced my classmates to give me their lunch money in exchange for my service of pairing them up with a “Best Friend.”
And, while I managed to make nearly $50 before I was caught, there was some concern over my socializing as I was only five, and the only one who happened to be “Best Friend-less.”
When my parents showed up to meet with my first grade teacher, she asked, “Is Becca your first?”
My parents, stuck somewhere between embarrassment and pride that I had finally exhibited some ingenuity, said back, “Yes.”
“Don’t worry, she’s going to turn out fine,” my teacher said, smiling.
That was the same teacher who took me aside, even though I wasn’t in the book club, and inspired me to read. I distinctly remember discussing “Charlotte’s Web” with the ferocity of a lawyer trying to convince a courtroom of her client’s innocence.
In middle school, I was a bit of a goody two-shoes. I hadn’t yet learned the subtlety of sharing the spotlight with others and my need to be the teacher’s pet was annoyingly backed up by the fact that I often set the curve.
Of course, my peers quickly grew tired of this fact and a few hate notes found their way to my desk. One day I opened one during math, proceeded to read it, and felt my eyes well up with tears.
My teacher took me out into the hall after a break in the lesson to ask me what was wrong. Instead of answering, I showed him the chicken-scratched note.
“Becca, you let this roll of your shoulders. One day you’re going to be doing great things, and this note sent by someone who has their own insecurities will be inconsequential,” he said.
“I just wish they weren’t so mean,” I replied.
“Don’t you worry about that,” he said. “You be the best you that you can be, unapologetically, and I promise you’re going to go places in life. This note won’t matter to you ten years from now.”
I still had a hard time finding comfort in his words at the time, but I smiled. Over ten years later I know he’s right.
During my high school years I encountered many great teachers. The best, perhaps, was my 11th grade English teacher, who believed in me when the rest of the English Department didn’t.
I backed both of us up when I won a top award for writing. I can still hear the excitement in the voicemail she left me that summer, ten years ago now.
“Becca, you did it! I’m so excited and happy for you! Just always promise me you’ll keep writing!”
Amidst a time when teachers across the country are stepping out for better wages and more benefits, I think about those who have had a profound impact on my life.
Sure, they taught me facts and grammar, but they taught me so much more. They reveled in my achievements no matter how small and tried to give me tools to tackle life. They taught me to believe in myself.
I think we should keep stories like this close as we move forward. I don’t want to live in a world without quality teachers.
Do you?
