My new student M arrived yesterday seating himself in the front row on his first day in an American classroom. He had that first week of school freshness about him, in clothes that looked carefully chosen iron and pressed. Immediately, he prepared his desk taking out a thick binder full of folders and extra paper as well as three sharpened pencils that he neatly lined up in a row. As I spoke about today's mission, to find a book at each student's independent reading level, he looked up at me and smiled and then looked around at his peers and smiled and then looked back up at me again and smiled. And from my spot in front of the room I swear I could hear his heart beating fast.
When I spoke to him for the first time one on one, I kneeled down at his side.
Where are you from my friend?
I am from Ethiopia, he responded, his smile widening, filling up his face with creases and crinkles reminding me so much of Facil that it took my breath away for a minute.
As we talked more he told me that he was living with his older sister in a small apartment away from the city and that his parents were still in Ethiopia trying desperately to join them.
My heart went heavy with this news with the idea that this gentle boy with the sharpened pencils who is so ready to get going and learn all that there is to learn here in America is somehow going to do it without his parents by his side on his first week of school. Heavy with the idea that he must leave his own country for reasons I cannot even fathom, leave behind its wondrous beauty to make ends meet here, to start again really, already behind his classmates, learning a strange alphabet and a whole new a set of social codes and hidden rules. But I am grateful to Facil because my friendship with him has already enabled me to start making a connection to M in one small way.
I love to eat injera, I tell him.
You know this? he looks pleasantly surprised.
I understand his plight much better and I understand my role even more so. I can tell M has big dreams and I hope America doesn't disappoint him.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
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12 comments:
Good luck, gentle boy. I hope his dreams come true.
How wonderful you get to share in his journey. I hope he never loses that passion to learn.
This post is so appropriate on this, the second week of school for so many of our little ones. Here we are, worried about our children riding buses for the first time, etc, when there are children like this gentle, smiling boy, eager to learn despite all of the obstacles. This helps put everything into perspective.
And what a gift you gave to him, letting him know that you know something about his world. I'm looking forward to hearing more about this student as the year progresses.
Three cheers for good teachers like you!
on the wings of the kindest angels, good luck to him.
You really are a mamcita of more than one child aren't you! I'm glad that M showed up in your class.
Food is the Universal language of Love.
I can totally visualize this exchange. How precious that moment was, for you and for him. I hope he'll always remember this first day of school, however bittersweet it must be not having his parents with him. Great post.
perspective, such a blessing. seems both you and your students stand to gain from the experiences your classroom brings.
good luck M...stay strong young spirit.
i've been wondering about facil. . .
sounds liek he has a friend in you, sister.
Wow... the things we take for granted.
I could see this boy's face when you told this story. I loved this story. Thank you.
You will keep disappointment away. You will bring joy.
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