Reason #2 Pierre-Jean – The gift of taking a moment to just be present.

About 20 minutes before the beginning of my 2^nd period class, one of my seniors came and asked if he could hang out since he didn’t have a 1st period class. Pierre-Jean is a great student, athlete, so polite and respectful. As one of a group of boys in my French I class and my Advisory, I talked with him frequently last year when he was a Junior and making plans for college.  This year, however, I hadn’t really talked to him about how things have been going.   

I put down my lesson as Pierre-Jean sat on a desk-top and we just started talking. I learned that he has four sisters, two older who are twins and two younger. He is going away to college next year to a Division B school because he knows that he learns better in smaller classes and doesn’t want to get lost in the crowd.  He likes to stay at home even though his friends like to go out.

It made me so happy to see the pride on his face when he talked about being the first in his family to go to college. The excitement he has is inspiring…to see that makes me happy. We are preparing students for their experience beyond high school.  Pierre-Jean knows himself and what he needs to be successful. He has worked hard and is making his family proud.  How fortunate I am to have been able to finally talk to him and learn his story.  How exciting it will be to see how he creates his life as a man.

I will always think about the time we cooked and he and Serge made this delicious chocolate cake.  To see two boys making a cake was pretty awesome. 

This is why I teach. Being able to be a part of Pierre-Jean’s high school experience and seeing him grow in not only his understanding and appreciation on French, but as a person. 

Taking time to talk, really talk to my students.  That is the key.  Being in the present moment is a challenge when there are so many things going on and so many things to take care of on a daily basis.

What is most important?  It is not what, but WHO.   

Merci Pierre-Jean pour me parle de ta vie, tes espoirs, et ta famille. Je sais que tu vas faire des grandes choses dans la vie!  

This is why I teach!