Do You Remember My Name?

Of course I do.

From October to December 2008, I volunteered extensively in an elementary school nearby my house. After their class let out for Christmas Break, I left for Malaysia, not flying back to the country until February. Instead of returning to the classroom, I began to work at my uncle and aunt's pharmacy, so I did not see "my kids" from February until now. It has been five months since I have seen them.

I have been keeping in touch periodically with my teacher there by e-mail, and she said that the kids missed me and that she was updating them about my life. It was so sweet of her. I still felt connected to their classroom community, albeit remotely. She insisted that I come back for a visit whenever I could.

Today I returned to the school for the first time since December. I walked over at about 3 pm. The school grounds were remarkably quiet from the outside. Where was everyone? It was then that I remembered the school gets out at 1:50! Not three! Silly me. Now I wasn't going to see any of the kids. I felt my heart drop a little.

I greeted the secretary then went upstairs to the classroom. I saw another teacher exit the room, so I knew it was unlocked. Was my teacher inside? YES SHE WAS! Along with her colleague, whom I am also familiar with. I smiled through the door window and we hugged. It felt like coming home to be in that classroom!

We caught up a bit, then talked a little business - - namely, me asking if I could do my student teaching in her classroom! She said an emphatic, "YESSS" and her eyes were spinning and her hands waving in the air. It was so her. From the sunglasses on her head, to the layered tees, hoodie and black Chucks, she was totally the teacher I had missed.

We said goodbye and I headed down to the office, intending to make an appointment with the principal regarding my student teaching with the secretary. After standing silently (I was the only one there other than a teacher using the telephone), she turned and noticed my presence. She informed me that unfortunately the principal handled his own appointments, and that she'd leave him a post-it with my information. I blabbered out that it was regarding student teaching.

The teacher must have put down his telephone by this point, because he started to ask me if I was in a program. I said yes! He said what kind of field experience did I need? I told him. Then he said, I'm _____. A little door in the back of my mind opened. I knew his name! One of my orientation presenters said that he was the new Vice Principal and that the two of them were very good friends.

I turned on my A game. This was the guy that was going to make or break my placement with my teacher! I dropped his friend's name and he responded well to that, telling me their entire friendship history. Then I started to tell him about how I had already volunteered with my teacher before, yada yada, and by the end of it, he said that my placement would be a "slam dunk" and that I should really consider being a counselor for a school-wide summer camp during Spring Break! WOW! And to top it all off, one of "my kids" came into the office while the two of us were speaking.

I recognized him but the name didn't come immediately...but it did, two seconds later. Miguel. I had barely uttered the word, when he dashed back outside the office. Within ten seconds, four more of my kids came in and they hugged me so tight as I was talking with the Vice Principal. Then another two came!

If you can imagine me in a tangle of arms and legs while talking to the Vice Principal....


Yeah.

Just imagine it.

It was pretty funny...but I loved them so much for it. It turns out that a few of them attend after school care, so I DID get to see a few of them! I took the motley crew outside into the hallway and they excitedly told me about what they were doing in class, updated me about the "new student" and invited me to their upcoming school play. "Promise you'll come back and visit. Promise you'll come see the show!"

Before all of the updating through, while I was still in octopus mode, one of the girls said, "Do you remember my name?" I felt a sinking feeling. It's been five months and one week! I took a breath.... after I said the first name, the rest came out: bam bam bam!

Of course I remembered their names.

And they remembered mine, too.

Just being there with them, seeing them do silly things to make me smile and laugh, and catching up with their lives....and knowing that somehow, they never forgot me.....

Really made my day!