Wow!

I will be the first to admit that it is seldom that I am at a loss for words, but today...it was a special day, and that is exactly where I found myself.

Today I received a gift that left me without words, but with a memory that will forever move me when I reflect on it. In an act that so reflects the spirit of Churchill, the students of Room 308 organized the rehearsal of a song to sing for our last day of the year, and surprised me with it. They picked the song, and got the words, and had Andrew and Iris work on the guitar parts, and then used French period today to sing through the song a few times before bringing me down to French on some kind of false task. Of course, after coming into the room, they started with the guitars, and then proceeded to sing the most hearfelt, and rousing rendition of a song that I have ever heard. After six years of School of Rock, I don't know how they got such a great performance after just one rehearsal! The song was 'My Life Would Suck Without You' and it was used on 'Glee' at the end of the first season, as a thank you for the teacher on that show. I don't even think I have the words now to explain how that performance made me feel. I reflected afterwards that it must have been powerful to keep me from giving them all grief for using the word "suck" :)

I will teach for many more years to come, and share experiences with many different groups of students for sure, but I guarantee that I will never EVER forget the gift that the class gave me today with that song. I can't think of a more fitting gift than that simple, wonderful act that they carried out. At the risk of carrying on any longer, I will simply say that, from the bottom of my heart, and with all of the emotion that still is choking me up thinking about it, my deepest thanks goes out to those independent, thoughtful, creative, and talented students who made a mark on my soul today that will never fade. You made this year a pleasure for me, and, to borrow some words I recently heard, I have to say that this year would have 'sucked' without each and every one of you. Thank you Room 308. Take care of yourselves.