Sage Pt 2

Early on I wrote about Sage (the one who loves camels) and tonight I've decided to give you an update on her...(see Sage and camels for the original post).

I have now known, and taught, Sage for almost two full years. As we near the end of my time here with her I am reflecting on my first thoughts and realizing that they were accurate but incomplete. I was right that there was more to her than she was showing but the more I got to know her, the more I learned just how special she truly is. She is certainly strong, opinionated, and witty. She doesn’t just accept things as truth, she searches and decides what she believes for herself and that makes her convictions strong. But Sage is more than her convictions. She is more than her talent and wit. She is more than her intelligence. Sage is a genuinely wonderful person. She loves and cares deeply. She takes care of the people who are important to her. She adds beauty and depth to the world through her writing, her dancing, and her general perspective. She inspires me still. I work hard to be the type of teacher she deserves. I love Sage genuinely. I can hardly wait to see the good things she will do with her life. I believe she is a student I will still know when she is grown up and I am old. I’ll know her still and be every bit as proud of her then as I am now.

For me, knowing Sage has been a deep honor. It has, at times, taken courage...because she is very strong. But I am grateful that I stuck with it. That I did not allow her facade to deter me. Because the real Sage...the one she is starting to really let people see...is more than worth the effort it took to get there.

As I said the first time I wrote about Sage, middle school kids, like all of us, are complex. They try to show you one thing but desperately want you to see something else entirely. They are strong, they are funny, they are capable, and they are worth it. Sage is going to change the world for the better. I hope that as she continues to grow she keeps questioning, challenging, and seeking truth. I hope she doesn’t ever let anyone snuff that fire out.