Important Letter, 2

Dear Seniors,

It’s senior year! I know how excited you are - I'm excited for you. Really, I am. I’ve known some of you since you were freshmen, and I honestly can’t believe how grown up you are! Just a few more short months, and you’ll be done with high school. Ready to begin the next chapter of your life. I'm counting down the days, just like you, but for a different reason. We need to talk.

I love my job. When people ask me what I do for a living, I'm proud to say I'm a teacher. Most people respond positively to that. Teaching is an honorable profession. When they ask what grade I teach and I say high school, the looks of interest usually turn to looks of pity. That’s right: people feel bad for me when they find out I work with teenagers all day. They often shake their heads while saying “I don’t know how you do it. I couldn’t deal with that.”

Teenagers get a bad rap in today's society. They think you wear baggy clothes that fall off your hiney or clothes that are so tight it’s a wonder you can breathe. You dirty dance, have sex and abuse both drugs and alcohol. You have a limited vocabulary, much of it vulgar. You spend way too much time IMing on the computer and playing video games. You are rude, violent, illiterate and dumb. They would tell you this themselves except you aren’t listening because you have your iPod in and blaring and you’re busy texting thirty-four of your closest friends. And you intimidate the hell out of them. Oh, and did I mention they think you are lazy and have a serious attitude problem?

It’s true. They do think these things. But you see, they don't know you like I do.

When I look at you, my students, those very same teenagers the rest of the world condemns, I don’t see what they’re talking about. When I look at you, I see the future. I see that this world is a better place because you're part of it. I feel blessed to be a part of your life.

I know that you are delightfully clever. You have a sense of humor as developed and sophisticated as any adult’s. You continuously amaze me with your insight and your world views.
I know that you are kind. You gather gifts and donations for charity and those less fortunate than yourself. You hold doors open. You are sympathetic to those who experience loss. You take care of each other and those around you during times of need. You handle yourself with a maturity and grace that amazes me. You look for the good in others. You volunteer in the community. You volunteer in the school. You mentor younger students. You are “buddies” for the severely handicapped. And it’s not just to look good on your college application – it’s genuine.

You are always up for adventure and new experiences. While you don’t always make the right choices, you fiercely defend your right to be independent and make your own decisions.
While most of you still have pretty solid family lives, some of you deal with very grown up situations with a sense of determination that is impressive. Things I wouldn’t have dreamed of dealing with at your age. Pregnancy. Addictions. Parents who kick you out of the house. Friends who die. Depression. Gangs. Parents who leave. Worries about where the money to pay the rent is going to come from because your parents are out of work. Parents / siblings / friends / boyfriends / girlfriends in jail, sometimes for horrific crimes. And through it all, you come to school with a positive attitude and do your work. Often without anyone else knowing about the dilemmas you face. You amaze me each and every day.

Have I made it clear how much I love you? Okay, good. Now that we have that established, let's chat about a few things that will make our year much easier. There are a few issues that have come to light in these first few weeks we’ve spent together.

1. Put. Your. Cell phone. Away. I am dead serious in this matter. There are many rules I would consider bending, but this is not one of them. I really don’t care if any of your other teachers let you use your cell during class. I’m not one of them.

2. I’m SO tired of saying this, and I can’t believe I have to say it to seniors: there is NO food or drink allowed on the carpeted areas. This is not a new rule. Freshmen can possibly get away with pleading ignorance on this matter, but not you. Don’t bring your Starbucks to class. Not only is it against the rules, but it’s a waste of your money. Besides, don’t you know that stuff will stunt your growth?

3. You’ve got to admit that there may be some truth to the iPod / cell phone addiction thing. Put it down for a minute and look around you. Your friends are awesome, and it’s important to stay in touch, but does it have to be every five minutes? And when you put in your earbuds, you may be retreating to a place you are comfortable, but you’re missing out. There are some pretty great people all around you, and they’re doing great things you may want to be a part of…you just need to pay attention.

4. I know you think you write better when you just write a final draft and skip all the brainstorming / prewriting “crap” we devoted two entire weeks to, but I’ll let you in on a secret: you’re wrong. You don’t write better when you sit around and talk for two weeks then throw something together at the last minute. Don’t complain about your grade, either. I’m not in the habit of babysitting seniors. You made your choices, live with the consequences. This may seem harsh, but it’s not. It comes from a place of love. I love you, remember? But this is your senior year, and it’s my last chance to teach you some responsibility in addition to the English they pay me to teach. Consider it a bonus for you. No charge. (You’re welcome.)

5. By the way, this class is not hard. It’s really not. If your last two English teachers have not expected much from you, that’s really too bad. I have high expectations because I know you can meet them. If you’ve had two “cake” years, then we really have our work cut out for us. Sit down, buckle up and hang on.

6. Remember the Natasha Bedingfield song we talked about on the first day of school? The one with the lyrics that talked about the future being “unwritten” and it was up to you to write it? Well, let’s begin writing your future by passing Advanced Communications. Don’t leave the page unwritten. Or the essay. Or the journal assignment. For crying out loud, just do your homework. I promise it won’t kill you. It won’t even cut into your social time…much. But if you spent less time in class texting and doing the work, you’d have more time outside of class to actually see your friends face to face. Chew on that for awhile.

And finally,

7. You, and only you, are in charge of your destiny. I know it sounds trite, and a little cliché, but I honestly believe that you can be whatever you want to be. I’m going to do my best to help you get there, but you have to be the one to do the work. I can’t want it for you…you have to want it. Believe in yourself. I do.

Love, The woman who is grateful for the chance to be a part of your life, no matter how small, and wouldn't have it any other way