When the Student Becomes the Teacher...

As teachers, we often talk about how we hope to learn from our students.  If you are anything like me, you start your year by telling students how excited you are to have them in your class, and that you know, without a doubt, as the year goes on they will teach you as much or more than you could ever teach them.  And it's true; I have no doubts that any teacher who says this means it--after all, for most of us, this is why we got into education: to continue learning.  That said, with all of "the something" going around in education today ( a few colleagues and I recently defined "the something" as being all those things thrown at teachers on a regular basis: CCSS, teacher evaluation, budget cuts, curriculum changes, etc.), often times learning from our students gets blurred away by the bureaucracy.

Enter Mary Fleming.  She came to my class like so many other freshmen; shy yet inquisitive; intelligent but nervous; passionate while pensive.  As the year went on, she found many ways to quietly stand out.  She played on the freshman volleyball team, came in for extra help on papers, and was a quiet leader in the classroom.  In short, she did her best to excel while passively working not to stand out, like so many freshmen do.  Now, let me introduce you to the Mary Fleming that North High School has known since March 12th:

Mary decided to take a risk. She shaved her head for the St. Baldrick's Fundraiser, raising over $1,300 for child cancer research.  She didn't do this because she wanted to stand out; she did this because she wanted to help--to do something to care for those less fortunate than she.  

Several days have now passed since Mary's selfless act of courage, and two things have come to light:

1.  She now knows what it means to "stand out", to be different from others.  This, more than anything else, is a lesson that she will carry with her for the rest of her life.  Sure, there are those who know why her hair is gone, but there are also many who don't.  Those people stare with unstated questions and unfair judgments.  Why? Because they don't know how to deal with something that is "different", those things that don't conform to their idea of "normal."  To those people I say stare away.  Because they are right, they are not looking at someone that is "normal", they are looking at someone who is exceptional--someone who inspires.  Someone who cares more about helping others than fitting into what society dictates is "normal."  To that I say, Mary, I am so proud of you for being okay with being exceptional...who needs "normal" anyway.

2.  Mary is the definition of courage. I think back to my time in high school, and sadly, I will admit that I didn't even attend the homecoming football game as a freshman because of rumors that the freshmen get picked on/beat up. And here is a freshman girl who is willing to endure awkward glances, quiet laughter, and judgmental stares because she is that committed to helping others.  At a time when reputation, image, and self-worth are beyond paramount to high school happiness, Mary was able to realize that her self-worth comes not from what others think of her but rather from what she can do for others.  Her courage manifested itself in action, action that might go to help save someone's life.  For that, Mary, all I can do is thank you.  Thank you for teaching me the true meaning of courage, and I only hope that through telling your story in this blog others are as inspired by your actions as well.  

You see, I am one of those teachers who starts every year by saying, "I hope to learn as much from you as you do from me...maybe more", and I do believe that this happens on a daily basis; however, this year it became something more.  It became a life lesson in the power of giving back, of helping others because you can and want to, and of the true meaning of courage. So I leave you with this: have the courage to be yourself; have the courage to give back; have the courage to be different; and have the courage to inspire others.  Mary did, and that is how my student became the teacher!  Thank you, Mary; thank you for your inspiration, and thank you for teaching me about courage.