Week 5:

Fun fact about me, I love kids. Honestly, I do. Truthfully, I love all people but especially little humans. Granted HR has jaded my love for adults, I've come to learn adults whine A LOT! If you think a toddler whines spend 15 minutes with an adult, we complain about everything… The weather, work… The nice weather outside, I can't enjoy because of work; or the reality that I have to walk in the rain from my car (in the parking lot) to the inside of my office. Honestly, I don't know how any of us adults survive this, it's tragic really! HA! I prefer the innocence of a child, because when a kid complains or has a tantrum you can (some of the time) excuse it because of their age. When a 45 year old adult has a tantrum you just shake your head and wonder if you are being recorded for a prank show…

When I was a little girl I used to dream of becoming a teacher, because of my love for people and because I love talking. I'd come home from school and play with my imaginary classroom. Yes, I had an entire classroom not just one imaginary friend. I would teach them everything I had learned that day; I would (obviously) discipline those who misbehaved. I always knew when I grew up I'd be a world changer because I was going to teach the future.

Fast forward to adulthood, I'm not a teacher, yet. I'm an assistant who still dreams of becoming a teacher. Someday, when I grow-up I hope to teach. My desire is to teach special education. Growing up, mom exposed our family to special needs. She and dad became foster parents and she was a special needs educator for several years. We were taught that all people were special regardless of their need. I don't think my mom ever met a human she couldn't love? As a kid I used to tell my mom her job must be so hard, because it must be so painful to see her classroom kids struggle because of their differences. Mom never looked at it that way. She would tell me it isn't painful or sad Jennifer, it's encouraging, because if they can do it anyone can do what they are doing, or learning… She never looked at her students and saw their disability, all she saw was an opportunity to love, and she loved well.

In college I enrolled in an education course because I just knew teaching was my future. I wanted to do what my mom did because I knew I could and I knew I would be able to love like she did. My future in education was short lived because of that class. The professor asked the class, "What would you do if one of your students didn't have a coat in the winter?" I was so excited and quickly raised my hand, because I knew what I would do because I saw what my mom did. My professor called on me to answer, "I would make arrangements to get that student a coat, even if it meant personally buying the student a coat." Unfortunately, that wasn't the answer this professor was seeking. She quickly informed me I could not buy the coat because the rest of the class might think I was playing favorites and blah, blah, blah. Honestly, I don't remember anything else she said, I zoned out. She pulled me aside after class and told me if I wanted to meet those types of needs for students I should be a social worker not a teacher and recommended I drop the class.

Sometimes people say things, well meaning. Her main goal with education was meeting a child's educational needs. I respect that. However, I believe teachers are social workers and I believe a great teacher does more than just meet a child's educational needs. I believe great teachers do whatever they can to make a child's educational process seamless, stress-free, and magical (if possible). I believe they do more than just educate a child, I believe they love their classroom.

Melissa Fink is a local Principal. She is one of those people who loves well. If you ever have the opportunity to meet her it won't take long for you to learn how passionate she is about her students. I met her last year when I learned her school was accepting blankets for students. Her school gives every student a gift at Christmas, and last year's gift was a blanket. The staff wanted students to have something they could enjoy but something that would also be practical. A good friend of mine helped me raise some money and we bought over 100 blankets for those students. All because Mrs. Fink shared on her Facebook that they needed blankets to make Christmas magical for her students. She posted yesterday that she has a family who doesn't have beds and is currently sleeping on the floor, because she understands that in order to have a good education you need teachers, principals, and coaches to be more than just educators. These kids need more Mrs. Finks; the world needs more people like her.

I had the privilege of honoring her today with flowers I hope she knows she is valued and loved. Our community and school district are lucky to have her serving these kids and their families. Someday, when I'm a teacher I would be honored to work for someone like her, because I know they would love my classroom as much as I will. Mrs. Fink, I hope these flowers remind you, you are loved and you are valued. I pray that you will, "rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances."