america AKA amanda

This morning you asked me what I've learned this year. I know I didn't give you a good answer. Mostly it was filled with umm's and I don't know's. I know as an english teacher you must hate those.
   
Words come easily to you. And that's something about you that I admire. One among many. But I don't mean this post to be a thank you, because I know you won't ever see this, and those are best in person anyway.
   
Last week I wanted to write a post to teachers everywhere. That "We see you" must be a joke and "We're always here for you" is just a memorized phrase to throw out there whenever there is silence. I needed you guys to know that silence isn't always bad, a lot of times we're just scared about what you think of our poems and journals and proofs.
   
I've learned this too. Some teachers don't care, but some do. I'm sorry I didn't tell you this over our pancakes and blackberry jam. But then my fork broke and I wasn't sure how to say all this when I couldn't even remember the first time I met you. (I've been thinking a lot about that too. The beginning of my junior year at the BTC retreat at Elle's house.)
   
Because you teach March Madness and came on the Student Council retreat. You dealt with maggots and 3am screams and laughter. You read my poem to me and showed me your ring that one morning. You are real and personal and I think you do see us.

Nelson teaches us to love writing
Smith teaches us to never give up. I have never seen a teacher work harder at helping us understand or be so willing to dedicate his life to students
Birrell teaches us we can to hard things
Pead teaches us sass
Gary teaches us bacon and cheese and apples and oh my gosh I'm obsessed
Paskett teaches us to get high on life
Rees teaches us to think
King teaches us that anyone can create. And I think that if I didn't take this class before creative writing I would have been a step behind
Pack teaches us that even grownups can be in a band
Summers teaches us that students needs moms, not just teachers
Erekson teaches us that quizzes aren't the end of the world
Wentz teaches us that marriage is a very important thing
Wright teaches us to notice everyone
Beckstrand teaches us to not give up even if life doesn't work out the way you planned. I don't think I have ever been in a class where I laughed so much

So Garlock, while you are ever wondering if becoming a teacher was worth it, or your teaching at Be The Change is actually making a difference, remember that your class is always the first english credit to be filled on skyward. Remember that once while I was asking myself if my poem was even good enough to try, you were asking me if you should clap or wipe the tear from your eye. I needed to hear that. Remember Kyler and Grey and Lauren and countless others that came back to visit you and that I still remember poems from last year's Speak For Yourself. You should remember this year's line for trying out because it's not hard to tell this is going to leave an impact.


So I guess, teachers, we see you too.




As Always, HS