Why I Love Teaching...

Paola at her wedding with her first and second grade teachers (who haven't changed a bit). = ) hee hee...

How cool is it to get birthday greetings from students you have taught over 18 years ago? Sure, the kindergartners were excited about my birthday, after all, there would be cake. But will they remember to wish me a happy birthday when they are second year law students? Will they huh?

I am happy to report the answer is YES! Among the wonderful handmade cards and warm hugs from Room 3, I got a text greetings from Dulce, who just completed her sheriff's academy training and now is working in the Men's Central Jail, YIKES! What courage! I get birthday wishes every year from Dulce, who entered my first grade class reading and writing Spanish already! She came back to my classroom to volunteer for years after she left, working with students and teachers. I have watched her grow and mature into an intelligent, creative, and hardworking young lady. I was able to attend her 15th and witnessed her graduation from High School. I am reminded of her every time I look out of my classroom at the wonderful palm tree she donated to our school... and her mom makes a "mean" tamale!

Another text (what is it with texting and the youth of today?)from Kathleen, who will be graduating this year from high school and plans (quoted from her mother after her middle school graduation) "to be teacher just like Miss Fung." Yay! Finally someone to unload all my great curricular stuff to when I retire... or even sooner! ha! Kathleen has also managed to track down (can you say MySpace?) other "former Fung students from 1994-1998 and wants to plan a reunion!

Then after finally getting Daniel to bed, I sat down to read my email and was greeted with birthday wishes from Paola. She was busy filing out applications for summer law internships and attending classes to complete her second year of law school. How special is that? Paola (a second grader at the time) was one of the first phone calls I received early morning on January 17, 1994. She wanted to wish me a Happy Birthday and to see if I was okay after the big earthquake! The funny thing about that morning was not that she called, but that she was not the only student who did! Rogelio also called that day- "Happy Birthday Miss Fung! Um, did you feel the earthquake, are you okay?"-5:30am. When you experience things like that, you know you are blessed.

Not only was I lucky enough to be Paola's first teacher in America, but I have been able to witness her mature into an amazing woman. She entered my classroom first grade classroom on a warm July morning, newly arrived from Guatemala, one of three students in class that day (Jonathan, Miriam,and Paola), wearing glasses and a sweet smile, not speaking a word of English. Over the years I have attended her high school productions(she has written, directed, and acted), listened to her speak at her high school commencement, celebrated her college graduation, witnessed her exchange vows with her soul mate, and look forward to cheering her on when she completes her law degree!

So why do I love teaching? You tell me.