Sometimes I forget...

I think most, if not all know that I teach high school Spanish at a great public school in Vienna, VA. There are many days when I simply forget that my students may be struggling in different areas of their lives (i.e. addictions, lonliness, rejection, school stress, peer pressure, abuse, family issues, etc). Yesterday I was brought back to reality and reminded of these issues.

After one of my students received one of her graded assignments I think she realized it was time for her to stay after and speak with me. I could tell she was very stressed and discouraged and she was asking what all she could do to improve her grade. She mentioned she was not doing well in one of her other classes as well.

This particular student is a typical cheerful cheerleader (smiling, laughing, outgoing, etc). Despite her normal cheerful spirt I could tell there was more going on in her life than just grades. I simply asked her if everything was going alright and tears filled her eyes as she began to sob. She stayed for a while through a 30-minute SAP (which is a student assistance period) and through most of her math class. She opened up about her family life (divorced parents, father married new wife and is having a baby). It was clear that she was so very hurt.

I listened to her, but also shared my parents story and my (almost non-existent relationship) with my father. I also shared with her that I thought it was okay if she did not want to be close to her father right now, but may decide to draw closer to him as she heals.

After we finished chatting I just hugged her and hugged her more. She cried again and I just got all teary-eyed because I remember how I felt about my parents divorce (even at 18 yrs old) and the way my dad treated all of us (including my mom).

It was a great reminder to me that I need to remember that these teenagers may be going through so very much and I may never know. As a teacher it is important that I remember that and learn to be a compassionate teacher. I pray that God will give me a compassionate heart for these teens.