A graduated student came to visit today. He graduated three years ago. At his graduation I could barely muster up a congrats - I was too busy trying to figure out how he was there.
When did he actually make it to class when he was in the suspension room all the time? He wasnt one of those polite students who did the wrong thing. The ones who are bad but you know that their heart is good. The kind that set fire to the garbage can on the 6th floor and maybe dont admit it to you but dont call you a fucking bitch liar when you catch them either. He cursed at all the deans, all the time. We must have suspended him a million times, a million and one maybe. But it didnt matter. What more is suspension for the trouble maker than a get out of class free card or another excuse for their failure?
About four years ago, this kid laid on the floor in the suspension room, face down for hours. Well, maybe not hours, but at least a couple of periods (at least it seemed to us). And refused to respond to our demands to get up. Refused to even speak. It wasnt until we had the phone in hand, dialing 9-1-1 that he stood up, looked us in the eye and nonchalantly sat in a chair.
And today, he came back to visit.
And his visit is what makes teaching worth it.
He's a sophomore at John Jay College and planning to continue onto law school when he graduates. And even more important is the good energy that exhudes from him. He just glows from within.
And, though he didnt apologize for the curses or all the work he put us through (we've had a few of those) he did come in to visit to show us that he's become a man.
And thats even better.
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