I’ve had a lot of special moments in education, but this might be the first one that brought me to tears.
Last week, a senior who I’ve had in class for a few years asked me for my favorite quote. So, I wrote it down for her.
“Treat others as you’d want to be treated.”
The golden rule.
Simple.
Real.
100% truth.
Today, she came in on her final day of high school with a typed note thanking me for all I’ve done to help her, help the students in our class and how I’ve inspired her to get into education herself. Her kind words were heartfelt and genuine.
What happened next will be something I will never, ever forget.
She showed me her arm.
She took the quote I wrote down for her and had the exact line, in my handwriting, tattooed on her arm.
You hear the term “speechless” all the time, but this was a moment where I had no words and couldn’t speak.
I just teared up.
To see that someone took my own words and value them so much to have them tattooed on them is something words cannot do justice for.
To all my fellow educators, teaching today is more challenging than it’s ever been. But on the days when you feel exhausted, burned out and are questioning why you do what you do, remember this …
You have more of an impact on students than you realize.
This is a moment I will never, ever forget.