Not how…but WILL you be remembered?

I had gathered up all of my things one day last week and was walking out the door when my phone rang. To further avoid my dentist appointment, I answered it abruptly, “Teamann”.  A sweet little voice said, “Hi Mrs. Teamann, I’m sure you don’t remember me but….”

It was a former Beaver student that I had taught calling to invite me to an academic banquet that he was being recognized at, and he wanted me to be his guest. That little voice turned out to be a practically grown student whom I did in fact remember. In fact, I tore apart my picture closet that night trying to find the picture I had of he and I had a baseball game of his that I went too. I can even remember what I was wearing, and that we were both squinting at the sun in the picture. (Random, I know.)

The fact that this student, whose full name I so enjoyed calling him by, took the time to hunt me down and invite me just warmed my heart. Now a senior, about to go off to college, practically done with his Garland ISD experience, took the time to make contact with me…it made me happier than any award or prize that I could have gotten this year.

An additional funny…sweet Mason brought me his invitation the day that we were under a tornado threat. He walked in, smiled at me, and I promptly ushered him into the clinic bathroom with the rest of the office staff to duck and cover.

When you are beaten down by testing stress, buried underneath initiatives & changes, or exhausted by paperwork and deadlines…please remember that you don’t do this job for hours or the paychecks. You do this job because you have the opportunity to be the one of the BEST parts of these children’s lives. To be remembered and respected for the impact that you made on their impressionable lives. Never take that lightly. Mason probably doesn’t remember a single assignment or test I gave him that year…but he remembered me.

I will be honored to join Mason and his family next week.

 

honored,

Amber