In this
very old, and slightly blurry photo, you see my middle daughter Maya playing
with her day care class. The reason it
is relevant is where she was. I had just
been hired to teach my first ESL class at a community center. My coordinator, who is also my mentor and a
very dear friend, allowed me to take Maya to the day care class provided for
students. So my daughter and her younger
sister, Samantha, went to teach with me. Now fast forward to 2013, and my new activity.
Maya, now a
grown woman, just got her first permanent job at the Army Navy Academy. Doesn’t she look happy?
Then the news got even better. After a very short time, she was promoted to International Student
Services Director. Army Navy loves her
as much as we do. As part of her new
responsibilities, she needed to find tutors for some cadets who are struggling
with English. I was thrilled to
volunteer. My profession has been so
good to me and given me so many opportunities.
I want to give back. I also loved
the idea of helping my Maya. So last
Thursday, I went to my first tutoring session.
My student is a 15-year old basketball phenom from the Dominican
Republic. He is over 6-feet tall and
definitely feeling lost, so far away from family and country. We connected immediately, and the half-hour
session seemed to fly by.
I was
tutoring in Maya’s classroom/office, and I couldn’t help but notice how
professional she was in her new role.
Students, faculty and administrators came to talk with her, and she was
comfortable and competent. I was so
proud.
As I walked to my car, I thought
about the time long ago when I brought Maya to teach with me. Yes, it is the full circle of life, and I
feel so honored to be in her classroom now.
