I Am So Proud of You!
This is a true story that happened to me yesterday. It doesn't follow the usual rules of poetry, but hey, it doesn't matter!
Let me tell you a true story that happened to me.I had been feeling down and had a hair appointment today, which was about 15 miles away.But I woke up with panic attack and I felt I couldn’t travel all the way up to London.At the same time, I felt so guilty having to cancel it as I know my hairdresser prioritised me.I was letting her down by not allowing her to have seen another customer. When I telephoned the hairdresser, her daughter answered the phone.She was a little girl I taught when she was six years old.Sometimes she does my hair as well, but mostly her mum.She must be now about twenty-nine years old.I explained to her that I was feeling down and have to cancel the appointment.I apologised her profoundly, but she was so understanding and empathised with me. This is what she said.“I do understand what you’re going through and it’s not a problem at all.It’ll give us a bit of a breather to have a cup of tea.Please don’t apologise, I can give you an appointment for next week.” She said that she was feeling so down over the lockdown period, without much money and not being able to go out.She was also looking after the elderly parents of her partner who she’s engaged to.She doesn’t own a tv because she doesn’t want to hear bad news and the media is full of that.She was talking to me so gently with a lot of care, bless her. She explained to me how a few years ago she had a medical condition.The doctor put her on all kinds of medication and one of the side-affects was she lost a lot of hair!She then had done a lot of research and started taking natural remedies.In about 6 months she felt better much to her surprise.When she went back to the doctor, he informed her that she did not have that condition anymore.But she didn’t want to tell the doctor that she was on herbal medicine.She didn’t want him to feel bad that he couldn’t make her better! This little girl is petite with curly blonde hair.Even in the primary school a lot of little boys were attracted to her.Her mother was nuts about it!I had a lot of time for her mother too in having meetings with her after school and calming her down.So, this little girl left my class, but she often popped her head in the class when I was having my lunch and marking books.She would say hello and I would say hello, goodbye in a funny way as I was so busy.She eventually went to college and got a diploma in hairdressing and joined her mother’s hair salon.She then travelled to Australia on her own and lived there for a bit before travelling in the far east.In one of the countries she taught English although she isn’t a qualified teacher.She has now returned and is back again at the hair salon in the job she loves. I’m so proud of my little student.If nothing else I’m so happy that I made at least a little contribution in the success of her life.I always tell children that they do not need huge qualifications and do high flying jobs.They should grow up with honesty and decency and follow their true passion whatever it may be.To stand up on your own with a voice and be an independent learner.Travel if you wish and soak up experience, instead of just lying on a beach; mix with the locals and get to know them.That sort of experience is far more valuable than all the qualifications in the world.It’s great if you have the qualifications as well, but not essential to be somebody that you like and respect.Any profession is valued if you earn an honest living.Of course, I used to give this message in way that made sense to them.I AM SO PROUD TO SAY THAT THIS LITTLE GIRL WHO GREW UP TO A BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEING WOULD GET A++ FROM ME FOR THE WAY SHE HAS APPLIED ALL WHAT SHE HAS LEARNT SO POSITIVELY. I enjoyed talking to her on the phone today.She was talking to me for over 10 minutes in between attending to a customer.She made me cry and I never thought when I was teaching, a student would do that to me, except shed a tear when I hear good news about them.I told her most of what I have written about her on this page.Her words were “you made my day Linda; it is so encouraging to hear you say all this!” I get news from her about other kids I have taught.Most of them are married; some went to University.Some have their own businesses and they all seem to work in different kinds of jobs.But most of all I’m so glad they have grown up into beautiful people.Even the naughtiest and problematic children I had.