Lisa the pretend mom

Me, Daisey and Vanessa

I was thinking of telling you about my girls that I mentor, and that got me thinking of my very first day teaching. You see I met the three girls during my very first teaching job in Denver. I was so excited to be a teacher and being the huge geek that I am sure I put out my outfit the night before. Ooh, here it was time to introduce myself and step up in front of my 7th graders and tell them how excited I was to be their science teacher. I'd cooked up a lesson on dinosaurs. I'm standing up looking into the brown faces of my student and BAM a wad of paper hits me in the forehead. EEEEEK. That first year was not about teaching science it was about creating relationships with my students so that in time with earned trust I could actually teach them. Of course I snuck in content everyday, but they didn't realize it at the time. That first year really taught me that teaching is so much more that spewing facts to a bunch of kids. It's about building relationships and creating a community in your classroom. This is when I met Daisey. I nominated her for an after school program that first year and there it was, a relationship. Two years ago I became her official "mentor" through a local program and we have tried to go out at least once a month. She is now a senior and with some more hard work will graduate on time in May. Her final mountain to climb is a 10 page research paper. Daisey called me last week and asked for my help. Tonight Daisey and I met at a burrito shop and for three hours worked on her paper. I am so proud of her! Her writing skills have come so far! Here is a girl that was born and raised in the ghetto. Mom and Dad have 5 daughters. All seven people live in a house with one bathroom! I know it gets frustrating to see people choose gangs and drugs, so when you get stuck on those thoughts think of Daisey and her huge accomplishments. Since I don't want biological children my mom has sort of adopted her as a grandma. Mom helps buy her school supplies and helps me with funds to take her out to dinner. In May I will be at her graduation. She proudly told me tonight that she has already bought my ticket. So, now, a question for you... what can I get her for her graduation? Is money tacky? She is talking about college, maybe taking a few classes at a community college. She still lives at home and plans on doing that for a while. I want to do something special for her, but what??