This is Katie.....she is a senior in high school....and I was her 5th grade teacher!
In OP this weekend, we went to Jose Peppers - one of our all time faves - in our old neighborhood, where I ran into her family. It absolutely made my weekend. She is so grown up and beautiful and kind and smart. She's beginning college next year at Michigan State.
I can't describe how rewarding it is to see my school kids grow up. When you show up every day to teach, you just do your very best. And mostly you beg God to - despite all your glaring flaws and inadequacies - somehow grow the brains of your students, to let them feel deeply loved, respected for their uniqueness, inspired to love learning, and to desire to treat the world with compassion.
Thank you, Katie, for applying yourself in school and in all of life. I don't know what the last 7 years have held for you, but its clear that you have thrived and are SO going places!!