The past two weeks I had my students write “This I Believe” essays. It was a good and powerful writing assignment. For some, they really dug deep and revealed a depth rarely seen in 7th graders.
I wrote one, too. It was an exercise that was necessary for me. In a moment of desperation today, I read this to some of my students. I needed them to know my heart just a little more. So, I want to share it here.
This I Believe
I believe we all have a story to tell. Sometimes that story is short lived. Sometimes it has twists and turns that no one expects. Sometimes the story seems pretty straight forward, but then a long, dark tunnel consumes it. There are times when you think you have the story all figured out, but then, oops. Plot twist. I believe that our stories matter. I believe that there is someone, somewhere who needs to hear your story. My story.
My story begins with a happy family. I was the youngest of three, and I knew that I mattered. I was loved. I only ever remember my parents arguing one time. Seriously? Who does that anymore? I didn’t need to search for validation from anywhere else because my family gave me everything I ever needed.
Somewhere in the first half of my very predictable story, the road started twisting and turning, and life got hard. There were things that happened to me that no one should ever have to go through. My story turned a corner and I found myself smack in the middle of a pitch black tunnel.
I believe that the love that was poured into my life then, became the beacon light I needed to find the exit from the tunnel into a brand new chapter of my story.
From there, and for years later, my story was one of love, laughter, family, and friends. I married, started having kids. The blindsides started all over again. Surgeries for my babies so they could live normal lives. Hard, breath-taking moments.
Then I became a teacher. I started learning stories that belonged to my students. And my heart expanded and I became school mom to many. Because, you see, I let them into my story and they let me in to theirs.
Because of my students…all of them, I will never be the same. I will still teach, still open my heart, share my story so they might learn something from me. In return, I hope that they share a piece of their stories with me so that I can learn from them. Because I believe we all have a story to tell.
Every student, every story matters.
This I believe.
Learning is a Journey 