From Tracie: She Told Me I Could Write

Sunday, February 19, 2012

She Told Me I Could Write

In an elementary school where speaking was not encouraged, or often allowed, I was a terrified kid who slipped in and out like a shadow. I do not remember a teacher who had an inspirational moment with me, and I am sure I did not make an impression that would cause any of them to think of me now. 

Other than a middle school band director who was encouraging to me musically, and one teacher who hated me, it wasn't until high school that I had a teacher who even noticed I was sitting in the room. 

She was my 10th grade English teacher. She told me I could write. She said I needed to work on it, but there was something inside of me. 

Journal and Leaf


It happened after I turned in a piece of creative writing homework. I had tackled the writing, not staying within the bounds of the assignment. For the first time in my life, I wrote something I wanted to write (not something that had been prompted and constrained by a teacher's assignment). As I turned it in, I fully expected to receive a failing grade, but I really didn't care. I had written the story in my mind.

The next day it was returned, marked with a big red D and, "See me after class." She explained that the D was for my failure to follow directions, but she loved what I had written. She wanted my permission to submit it to a state writing contest. 

I don't know what happened to my story. I assume it did not win, because I never heard any news about it. But it was near the end of my high school career, (the last day I attended school being sometime in my third month of 10th grade) so there was not much chance of her contacting me.

That story was the last time I wrote anything, other than journal entries, until I started this blog.

I thought of her today when I was reading a book about writing. She not only noticed me sitting in her classroom, she saw me - at least the small amount that I was willing to reveal. She told me I could write (I wasn't sure I believed her at the time, but I wanted it to be true more than I was willing to admit). She took an interest in my thoughts. I didn't fully understand, until I remembered this exchange tonight, how much that meant to me. 

Did you have a special teacher who noticed your gifts and encouraged you?

14 comments:

  1. My high school English teacher was someone who encouraged me. I attended the same high school as my mom and this teacher was her teacher too. I had a chance years after graduation to see her again and thank her. It was a touching moment for both of us.

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    1. That is SO awesome! What a blessing to be able to thank her all those years later.

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  2. I had an English teach in high school who was the only one who really encouraged my writing also. Understood this well.

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    1. It is wonderful to have that encouragement. Especially during those hard teen years.

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  3. You know, I have thought about this before. I don't really remember one specific teacher who really encouraged me, but I do remember a feeling of individual teachers who liked and supported me. That is so important these days. Kids are so busy and rush from assignment to assignment, from event to event and from school to work that they can forget they are important to us as individuals.

    Thanks for spotlighting that for me. Good reminder!

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    1. It is really easy to get so caught up in the busyness of life that those small moments of individual attention get lost.

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  4. I'm not sure I ever had a teacher that noticed a talent in me that way. I had lots of teachers that were encouraging, but not that stand out in a "you should do this" way.

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    1. Not all of our talents have a way of showing up during those school years to be noticed by teachers. But I'm happy to hear that your teachers in general were encouraging. That is a good thing.

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  5. I had an English teacher that believed in me in a sea of people who thought I was a bad kid. She also nurtured my love of reading and writing. I will always be grateful to her.

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    1. That is beautiful. I'm glad she was there for you!

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  6. I had a 6th grade teacher who encouraged me to sing and in high school a French teacher who took me under her nurturing wing.

    K Ryan

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  7. I love this - I love that you were encouraged by this teacher.

    And write you do.

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