After school today, I went to return something at the mall. As I walked in the store, a fellow, about 20, who was folding clothes, grinned and made a beeline to assist me. He was extremely friendly and polite; he asked me tons of questions about my day. I thought what a sweet boy, which made me glance at his name tag, Robby. Robby, I taught a boy name Robby once. As I looked back up, I saw the face of  a former six-year-old.

When my mind made the connection, I said, “I just realized who you are. I taught you.”

He replied, “You didn’t remember me?”

“I’m surprised you recognized me. That was a long time ago.” I said.

“Of course I do. You were my first grade teacher for a little while. But then they had to disperse the class and move you to another grade. After that year, my family moved, and I changed schools.”

“You are right! That’s exactly what happened.”

“Those were good times. I’m so glad to see you again.” He smiled as he handed me my receipt.

Now, normally I am quick to recognize a former student. But I only taught this child for about six weeks. Having taught school for over twenty years, I have encountered a lot of children. Teachers say they don’t have favorites, but there are some kids, that take a special place in your heart and it never goes away. Though Robby was a great kid, cute as a button and sweet as pie, he was not one of those kids who stole my heart.

The Next Larry Bird

As I walked out of the mall, I thought of a former student, Alan. He was one of those kids. In the beginning, we had no special connection. For a good portion of the year, I looked at him as a good kid to have in my class. He always followed the rules and made good grades. One morning as each child walked into my room, I announced something good I had noticed about them. “And here comes Kay as always sporting her cheerful smile.” “Introducing Denver, who I saw was the fastest runner on the playground yesterday.” “Look at Mike, the awesome artist of the room.” Alan was late that morning, so when he walked in, everyone was in their seat working. As he tried to slip in without drawing attention to himself, I proclaimed, “And here comes Alan, the next Larry Bird! I saw you dribbling ball yesterday.”

In unison, most of the class replied, “Who is Larry Bird?” My reply, “What! Y’all don’t know who Larry Bird is? Am I that old? He was one of the best basketball players ever!” As I explained, Alan stood  grinning from ear to ear. That one comment changed my relationship with that child. From that day on, he became attached to me.

Later in the year, a fellow teacher commented to me, “You need to take him home with you; he needs a real mom.” I nosed around and discovered stories that I won’t share. Let’s just say, he didn’t have a great mom. Nothing horrible, but sad no less. When May rolled around, we made our Mother’s Day gifts. As we bagged them up in the decorated brown paper sacks, he came up to my desk. The eight-year-old crawled in my lap and said, “I want to give mine to you.”

At the end of the year, his mother withdrew him, and they moved away. I cried.

Do Your Remember Me?

About ten years later I was at an out-of-town basketball game, and I saw Alan. I knew instantly from afar it was him. When I saw him head for the concession stand, I took off to speak to him. I was so excited; I couldn’t wait. Walking into the lobby, he looked up, and I smiled. He turned away from me. Surely, he remembers me! How can he not? He treated me like I was his mom. “Hey, Alan.” He turned around and said hey. But the look on his face said to me he didn’t know who I was. “Do you remember me? I was your second grade teacher.”

He smiled and said, “I think so.”  But I really don’t think he did.

I can’t believe Alan was so attached to me and did not remember me. I just knew, even when he was fifty years old, he would recall me! And then Robby who I only taught for six weeks, and I didn’t recognize, was so excited to see me. I guess you don’t always realize the impact you are having on someone.

Sometimes, like with Alan, a teacher’s care impacts a child only in the current chapter of his life because he needs you at that moment. Other students like Robbie you leave a lasting footprint in their life. For a teacher the important thing to remember is you do make a difference.  -Donna