Life Lessons From Students

Cheers and jeers erupted throughout the classroom as I read the last two pages of MYSTIC. My emotions were running deep. It had been a long time since I read the ending of my own book. Surprised at my reaction and theirs, happy they were emotionally invested in the story and had opinions on the ending, and teary because the ending…the theme…is about self acceptance and the story hits close to home.

I opened up a discussion on why MYSTIC ends as it does, trying to get them to see deeper into the story. This particular class was a high energy class. A mixture of 6th through eighth graders; the most challenging class I’ve ever taught. They were the class that kept me awake at night wondering how I could do better the next day.

One boy was extremely excitable. I never knew what was going to come out of his mouth next. If I turned my back for a second I could find him across the room initiating an imaginary sword fight with a classmate. He had many behaviors on the surface but underneath there was great understanding.

After finishing Mystic, while the rest of the class completed their assignment, I went over to the boy to keep him on task. I knew getting him to stay focused and write down all his answers could be challenging so I asked him the questions and told him I’d write. He responded. I asked him what a theme of a story was. He knew. I asked him what the theme of MYSTIC was. “It’s that it doesn’t matter if you have a disability. You’re still who you are on the inside. Oh, and to trust.” My heart was dancing a lil jig. He did it!

When I looked up, I saw his classmate next to him, a very sweet, very patient, girl who had been sitting next to him for seven weeks, often the recipient of many of his antics, raise her arms in the air and do a silent cheer for him. The moment will forever be etched in my mind. One student cheering on another’s success. A fleeting moment in my day that reminded me of an important lesson. Find the thread that connects us, despite our differences, lift each other up by that thread. Celebrate each other’s success. It was one of those moments that made me grateful to be a writer and a teacher.

On my last two days….

The students surprised me with many extra credit MYSTIC projects. The optional assignment was to think of what they love to do–choose an art and create something that relates to Mystic. I’m deeply grateful, humbled, touched, and in awe of all they created. Thank you, middle school students at NFMAA. I loved getting to know each and every one of you.