The New Girl

Her name is Purity, she is in class 3, and she is so gorgeous.

In the middle of second grade and seventh grade, we moved, and thus I was the “new girl” for the rest of the year. I have wanted to be a teacher my whole life, but my experiences during these two times in my life, only fueled that passion more. In second grade, I had one of the kindest teachers I have ever had, her name was Mrs. Rogers and I immediately made so many good friends (that I still keep in contact with on FB today!). My experience in seventh grade was quite different; my teacher(s) were rude, and inconsiderate that I just moved to this new town and new school in the middle of the oddest years in anyone’s life. I didn’t make friends that year, in fact from day one some random girl wanted to beat me up (we graduated HS together and I still don’t know why she wanted to)!! During these two times in my life, I saw both what a teacher should and shouldn’t behave like when a new students enters the class far into the semester (here it’s trimesters).  It has always been something I have looked forward to facing because it’s a situation so close to my heart.

Immediately upon arrival this morning, I saw this new little girl sitting in the back on my class 3. At first she looked like she was in the wrong class just because she looked a bit older than the others kids, then I realized that she simply had her first day yesterday and now she has a crazy “mzungu” teacher on her second day! At first, she was put off by the idea that I was about to teacher her class some math for the first 40 minutes of the morning. I asked her actual teacher, Mrs. Kilonzi, if she would mind telling Purity that I teach this class for just two periods a day. Purity was soon excited by this idea and I saw that the other students were both kind and inviting to her as she learned the quirks that make this class so special. She also learned quickly that I am definitely not like any teacher she has ever had before. She probably thinks I am a bit crazy, since they students hardly raise their hands like they should, they hardly ever stay in their seats, and I let them come up and write on the board when they know an answer (easier with math than anything else).

Today will always be close to my heart because I (hopefully did a good job &) lived a real dream of being a KIND teacher to the NEW student.  Sounds silly but it’s true.

She is precious, gorgeous and smart and I am blessed to be her teacher!

Pray for Purity as she goes through each day at a new school, with new teachers, and new friends!

(no picture because, silly me forgot my camera)