![]() Poor is the student who doesn’t surpass the teacher. Leonardo da Vinci said this first but he used fancy words. Poor is the pupil who doesn’t surpass the master. Here’s to hoping da Vinci won’t mind small changes. I really like this quote though. These are teacher words to live by especially when I run across a student who is simply awesome. Like Jared. I have a picture of me and Jared on my bookcase at school. We were on a foreign language club field trip to Habitat’s Global Village. I think it was 2014. It’s a great picture of him. Terrible picture of me. Those who know me best know that I never put out bad pictures of myself. It’s a life rule. If I see a bad picture, I only obsess over how I looked. It’s a mental self-preservation thing. Many will understand. Yet, I have broken my own rule for this picture. I only see Jared when I look at it. I only remember how much fun that field trip was with a great group of kids. I’d take them anywhere. Jared, my awesome student, was enthusiastic. Gracious. Helpful. Cheerful. He started in ninth grade with French and enjoyed languages so much that he signed up for Spanish. I think he overlapped them. Sometimes students who like learning languages will do that. They figure out the patterns and the teacher. Jared was using his languages, not just learning about them. That is what I remember. I glance at that picture on my bookshelf throughout the day to be inspired to make the classes fun for my kids. I don’t have to look at the picture to remember Jared. He works with me now. I get to see him every day… down the hall, across the lunchroom, in classrooms of kids waiting- virtually waiting to learn something new, or at my door wishing me a happy day. I love me some Jared! Jared soaked up all that learning in high school from all of his teachers. He is more than capable of pouring it back into his students today. I love to hear Jared with the kids, especially when he can teach my lesson better than I can. He can impart a love of learning languages with smiles and enthusiasm, not a drop of dread or confusion. With every kindness, he reminds me to be kind. With every smirk and wink, he reminds me to lighten up. To laugh. I always need to lighten up. With every thread of energy and purpose he weaves into his day, he teaches and inspires. He inspires me to pay attention to my threads. I can’t let them unravel, no matter how old or frayed they might appear. He inspires me to create some language magic with those lessons that captivate, not confound. Jared is finding his own way in a really tough job, and I don't think he needs my help much. Maybe.. just maybe.. I can still teach him something. Maybe I’ll teach him to recognize how he is getting it right- his planning, his nurturing, and his creativity. how he imparts the best of himself to all of us. how to thank God for students who love what you give them. Blessed is this teacher who can witness that student surpass it all. It’s time for a new picture!
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JoAnna Arnold
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