Flower

One of the great joys of teaching is having the privilege to watch students blossom in front of your eyes. To watch their eyes light up when they find something they are passionate about, often for the first time. To see education come to life. To watch a shy, quiet, student find their voice. Or a loud and opinionated student learn when silence is more appropriate. We watch confidence develop as students struggle to find themselves in the awkwardness that is middle school. We watch first “loves” and heartaches. We watch friendships face trials and sometimes fall apart, all the while knowing they will most likely find their way back to each other. We watch students who are “failing” academically suddenly decide to take charge and turn things around. We cry as we watch those students promote and, if we’re really lucky, eventually graduate. We are around these students so much that we have a unique perspective into their lives. And, as I said, it is a joy. It is also an honor and an invaluable responsibility. Over the past two years I have had the opportunity to watch some of  these patterns unfold in the life of a truly remarkable student. She asked if her name could be Flower...I think that is more than appropriate.

Flower is a beautiful human. She is kind, respectful, funny, and strong. She is absolutely brilliant and she does not even realize that yet. She is athletic, artistic, and talented in so many ways. She is a good and loyal friend and a dedicated student. These characteristics have all been present in Flower since I met her two years ago. She has always been a cut above. However, one thing has changed dramatically in her life and I could not be more proud. Flower has learned to stand up for, and believe in, herself. When I met her, Flower’s kindness and loyalty sometimes lead her to stifle her true self in order to appease her peers. I could see it wasn’t what she wanted, but she felt it was what she needed to do at the time. I wondered why, as I always do, and also wondered if and when this would change in her life.  I made a decision early on that I would be there for her when it did.

Here’s what I learned about Flower’s life...While I see all of the brilliant and positive things about Flower, some people in her life sometimes do not. Or at least do not express it well if they do. Which is probably the case for all of us but that can be hard for a kid her age. I know Flower feels she cannot measure up. In my eyes she stands out above all the rest. I think this background of having to prove herself in order to be accepted is what caused her to seek approval in friendships (that and the fact that every middle schooler wants acceptance). So what changed?

Well...Flower did. She blossomed this year (no pun intended) and totally came into her own. She is owning all of her amazing attributes, expressing herself, standing up for herself...she is being her own person and it is absolutely amazing! Every time I see her I am filled with pride. Flower is starting to see herself the way I see her. She is still the same sweet, caring, funny, brilliant, and beautiful person, but now she knows that she can be loved because of who she is. She does not have to conform, she just has to let her true self be known. And it is an honor to know her. Truly.

As she leaves our school and moves on to high school I am completely convinced Flower will be successful. She will thrive. She will learn and grow. She will spread light and kindness. She will continue to learn who she is and use that knowledge to help people. She will face trials but they will make her stronger. She will have victories and they will bring her (and me) joy. And she will always have a home here.

- KL