I have a student in my class who has improved a lot since the beginning of the year. She is a smart kid who had low standards for herself in September. But now, she is realizing her potential and trying very hard to make good choices. I like her because she naturally and respectfully can speak her mind, but she is reluctant to do so in the classroom. She is making steps towards that goal though and she is one of the only kids I see putting in a solid effort to raise her grades. Recently, she told me she was starting her own business, raising chickens and selling eggs. She is very excited about it. She even has her own labels for the cartons! I bought a dozen eggs from her today. She came in and said her mother was going to drop them off at school. I handed her the two dollars the eggs cost, but she wouldn't take it. She said, "Wait until my mom drops them off. I want to make sure you get them." I was totally impressed by this. Later, the eggs came and she handed them to me and told me to let her know if there were any strange yokes or any eggs I didn't like and she would replace them for me. She finally let me pay her and I promised her I'd try some for dinner. Seriously, it was probably the high point of my day. You'd have to know this group of kids, but rarely do I see a student in this class take pride in something or strive for excellence. This student was so very proud of her eggs and so desperate to make a good impression. I hope someday she becomes a successful business woman and I hope her peers take a good look at her because she is slowly turning into a strong, determined young woman of purpose.
