As a youngster, I was usually only a good student when I had a good teacher. If a teacher was either (a) an asshole in general, or (b) an insult-to-my-intelligence asshole, I was a terrible student. For this reason, my academic performance was sketchy. This didn’t please my parents. But then, we are put on earth to grow into teenagers and vex our keepers in every way possible, so I was just doing my job.
Because of my fluctuating grades, I didn’t get tapped for honor society. There were no sashes or gold cords accessorizing my cap and gown. I wasn’t in the top ten students. I wasn’t even in the top twenty students of my graduating class, and there were only around seventy of us, so that should convey how lackluster a student I was.
But…I could turn in a killer essay or paper or article on any subject that was thrown at me, so I actually finished my senior year of high school on a good note. Not only did I make all “A”s every six weeks (my parents thought an alien entity had taken over my body; it was just a math-free, good-teacher year), but I won the English and Journalism awards on Senior Awards Day. Trust me, I was proud of the pendants that came with winning. They rewarded something I valued and worked at: writing.
Several years later, my apartment was robbed when I was in graduate school. Those pendants were stolen along with other things that had no monetary value but enormous sentimental value. This week, I had reason to go into a shop that sells trophies, awards, and such, and I thought about my stolen medals. On a whim, I googled.
This is identical to mine and should be arriving next week. I talked to the seller on the phone. He lives in Washington State, and I only wish he had more things I could buy because he was SO COOL. When he found out why I wanted it, he said he loves hearing stories like that because it means the stuff he’s selling is going where it’s meant to be.
For the record, the pendant still has its original packaging. So he probably didn’t steal it from some other pathetic underachiever who wants a tangible reminder of what it was like to hear her name called on that spring day a LOT of years ago.
Now…if I can just find the matching pendant for the English award…
Thanks Mrs. Bryan and Mrs. Jones. The two of you did wonders for my self-esteem those last two years, and on that day in particular.
It would be great if you could find your teachers and send them a copy of this post. Teaching can be a really lonely job, you are on your own with the kids and most of the times there is no one there to say Great Job! Knowing that you touched a student is the only reward you get (trust me, we don’t do it for the money … hmmm…. What money?) I bet your teachers would love to hear that they inspired you and that they made a difference.
Michelle
Hurray!
This is just so lovely to hear.
Yay for You and mementos.
🙂
very cool.
i found a watch i once had on ebay. i got the watch in 4th grade and had it till a year or so after i graduated. the house burned and the watch went with it.
i contacted the ebay seller after i’d won the auction with my sob story. she was so excited that my purchase had a tale to go with it.
anyway, all that to say, i understand how excited you must be!
I love that your purchase had a tale to go with it, too. Someone should compile a book of e-bay stories…