Courage

I received a thank you card from a graduating senior today. She had been in my writing class last year, and a literature class with me fall trimester this year. The last time I've had her in class was in November, over six months ago. She has had some real challenges in her life. At one point last fall, it looked like her family might not have a home. She almost stopped coming to school then. She has had to deal with major health issues. She's a bright girl and a good student, so I don't think very many people knew about her challenges because she always looked like she had it together, but English teachers know lots of things because we read the kids' writing. This is what she wrote inside my card today.

"Mrs. Haynie,

"You have been there for me through everything; the good times and the bad. Even when I was feeling so low and thought life couldn't possibly get much worse, you picked me up and put hope in my heart. I went through some rough times and got to a point to where I didn't even think going to school was worth my time, but you were always there to make it worth my while. You have helped me through many sticky situations, whether it be with my health or family issues or even just day to day drama. You are always there. You have always been the person to tell me things will get better and encouraged me to be my best, and for that I am so thankful. You have been the best English teacher and Creative Nonfiction Writing teacher I have ever had. You are an amazing writer. You love your job, you love to write, and you love your students. I have never met anyone so good at what they do. Never change and never stop teaching.

"You are truly an inspiration. I love hearing your stories of the outdoors and of hiking trips you have gone on. You have really encouraged me to get out and be adventurous. I hope that someday I am the strong and independent woman you are.

"I never truly knew how much potential my writing had until I took your Creative Nonfiction class. Whether I reach my goal of becoming a nurse or not, I will never stop writing. I will continue to better myself as a writer and someday put the story of my life into a book. I promise you, in that book I will write about how much you helped me and made me who I am. You are an amazing person! I may be graduating, but I will see you again. Thank you for everything you have given me. Thank you so much not only for being an amazing teacher, but also for being an amazing friend. Lots of love and God bless."

Reading her card moved me to tears. I was very touched that she took the time to write such a thoughtful thank you letter, and to go to three different classrooms trying to track me down so she could deliver it in person. I'm not entirely certain I should have posted its contents here. It's a personal, private message. There are so many personal things that are inappropriately shared online these days. But I decided to share this student's thoughts because they can teach us all something about the importance of showing up and encouraging others.

In spite of what this young adult woman thinks, I'm not the greatest teacher there ever was. I'm not the best writer, or the most adventurous outdoorswoman. I'm not a lot of things. I'm just me. It's true that I do (usually) enjoy my job, but really, the things I do that made the biggest impression on this student are:

1: Show up, and
2: Encourage others.

I love the word COURAGE. The root of the word is the same as the root for "heart" in Latin (cordis). The apple core is at the heart of the apple, and our core beliefs are the ones we hold tightest to our hearts. In Spanish, corazon, heart, is very close to coraje, courage.

And when we encourage someone, we are putting courage into them. Into their hearts. Don't you love to encourage someone else, and watch their shoulders get a little straighter, their eyes begin to sparkle? Don't you love it when someone else encourages you and lets you know that they have confidence in your capabilities and capacity to do what is right and strong and good in the world? It's godly work, being a cheerleader for those around us.

By the same token, to discourage someone else, to take their courage away from them, is a bad, bad thing to do. Discouraged people are easy targets for temptation, illness, accidents, bad karma. Discouraged people are more likely to bring others down with them in a vicious cycle of trouble and unhappiness.

For me, today's thank you card captured what I see every day as I work with teens. They are such holy brave unsure idealistic awkward genuine earnest children. They are everything I was just a few years ago, everything I still hope to become. They know so little, and they know so much. Sunday afternoon I'll march with them in their graduation gowns, where, at the end of the speeches and ceremonies, they'll throw their caps to the sky with jubilation and joy, and I won't be able to help grinning from ear to ear at the miracle of their beautiful selves, launched to try their way into the world.

Courage, my friends, courage. It's a beautiful word. Let's share it around.

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Speaking of teaching and courage, do not miss this video on Facebook. 

It's my son-in-law, Eric, in his chemistry lab, setting things on fire in some interesting and unique ways. Eric is an admirable high school science teacher. He earned a doctorate in chemistry from UC Berkeley, and he could have worked just about anywhere for lots of money, but he chose to teach at a high school--a small one in a little farming town--because he loves teaching and teenagers.

PLEASE go visit his video, and "like" it. He's trying to earn $2500 for the science program at his small rural high school. They're facing lots of budget cuts and they could really use the money. He's in second place in a contest, and he only needs a few more votes to win! Please please please encourage Eric and put him over the top. 

Click HERE and follow the directions to "like" the video (don't just "like" the comment).
Haha - believe me...you WILL like his video!

 Thanks!

Courage to Write

Gee, after you haven't posted for a while, it's hard to get back into it again.

I have been reading "If You Want to Write" by Brenda Ueland. I love what she has to say because she is not inhibited about being "correct" - her focus is on saying what is true for her, and encouraging others to write according to what is true for them.

She says, "Everybody is original, if he tells the truth, if he speaks from himself. But it must be from his true self and not from the self he thinks he should have be. ... If you speak or write from yourself you cannot help being original."

These thoughts encourage me. They put courage into me - courage to try to speak up from my view of the world, a view which is hopeful rather than cynical, a view which leans more toward faith than to despair.

Ueland's book concludes with these thoughts: "And why should we all use our creative power and write or paint or play music, or whatever it tells us to do? Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold, and compassionate, so indifferent to fighting and the accumulation of objects and money. Because the best way to know the Truth or Beauty is to try to express it. And what is the purpose of existence Here or Yonder but to discover truth and beauty and express it, i.e., share it with others?"

So I will try to write at least one true thing every day, at least one thing that is beautiful, at least to me.