One

It takes just ONE. One person to save a life. I believe this with all of my heart. I am a teacher because I believe this to be true. I was one of the lucky kids because I had a ONE in my life growing up.

This story is about my ONE, and how we all have the power to be the ONE. As you know from reading my blog, I had an interesting childhood to say the least. I experienced quite a bit of trauma as a child, and much of it I still carry with me today. Thankfully I had a teacher during my middle school years that saw something in me, and believed in me.

Her name is Ann, and she will forever be my hero, and saving grace. This teacher saw me in a different light. She never pushed or asked to many questions about my life, yet she somehow knew that I was going through many challenges.

Ann provided things for me throughout my years, many of these things I never even knew came from her. She did not do it for the glory. She did not do it for the notoriety. She did it because she genuinely cared about me. She was my ONE. I don’t remember much of what I learned in her classroom, but what I do remember is that she was there for me. I trusted her and felt safe with her. If it wasn’t for her showing me what love looks like, and providing me with a sense of normalcy in my life I really don’t know if the outcome would have been the same.

I am writing this post because school has just begun, and every year I think about Ann, and what she did for me. Every year I strive to be the ONE to a child in my classroom. As the year starts, we become boggled down with curriculum, data, meetings, and collaborating. Sometimes we forget that the most important thing is relationships.

I know some would disagree and say that teaching goals, and standards, making sure kids can read and write is just as important; however, I will agree to disagree with that statement. I will tell you as a child I don’t remember how I learned to read or who taught me. I don’t remember much of any curriculum based information I obtained. I was living in trauma so none of that mattered. I may have been able to read and write, but I can’t promise that I would have graduated high school much less gone to college. If I had gone through school without every having the relationships with teachers and people who loved me I can say I honestly don’t know what I would be doing today or where my life would have taken me.

If a person does not feel loved or have a person in their life to care about them I honestly believe nothing else really matters. So I am going to continue this year like I have years past with the same goal. For students in my room to know that I love and care about them. I hope they will learn a lot along the way, but most importantly I want them to know they have a safe place in my room and a person who cares. I want to be ONE!

Good Luck to all of my teacher friends out there, and remember we all have the power and ability to change lives!!