Imprints on a Teacher's Heart

Realizing I had not said the Pledge of Allegiance in five years.
When I taught my first lesson and the class applauded.
When the girl who I thought didn't like me,
brought me coffee in the morning.

When the student gives me a school picture.
When the students say I'm a great teacher.

When the friends in class, end up punching each other.
When I let the seniors dance in class, because they were about to graduate.

The first day as a teacher hearing, "she looks mean."

When the thirteen year old girl
in the second row, is 6 foot
and sized me up by yelling at me.
When a girl threw a book at me because I took her phone.

When the boy travels across the world
on winter break and brings pictures to share.

When the boy moves to Germany in the middle of the year,
and says that he will miss me as a teacher.

When the girl taught the class for one period
and everyone listened to her.

When the substitute wrote a note saying how bad my students were.

When the student who failed over and over again,
came to class with a positive, motivating attitude.

That first field trip.
That first winter market place.
The time someone threw a computer at me.
That first school with a dress code.
The kid who threw up in my class.

All the homemade cards.
The conversations during an election year.
The struggles of students home life.
The way I can see how young girls look up to me.

Always wondering if I'm really making an impact.
Getting a note letting me know,
I'm a light in her day.