A long time ago now, doesn’t seem so long ago really. But twenty years ago when I taught physics for transfer students at the College, I was trying to explain that what you do in class and in education that you’re learning and putting yourself through, might not make sense for many years to come. I wanted to also instill this fact that there are lessons to be learned, that each person has already learned to get them where they are. So I started explaining what led me to teach at the transfer college.
‘What’s going on you guys? My name is Mr. Harrison. What’s going on with you guys? Didn’t want to get in a four year quite yet? Still deciding your major? Come from low-income background? Don’t answer these questions. Just know that a larger percent of people in this college have similar stories. And while all stories aren’t the same, your reasons for being here in this room today are valuable. Whoever you are as a student, so long as you are in my classroom, you are valuable and your presence here matters.’
Now, most days in the beginning of the semester were a great way to start off strong and set expectations. I wanted people, my students in particular, to see me as a beacon. A mountain of humanity that they could build upon. So, I continued.
‘I too could have taught at a four year college, but I chose to teach here because I happened to go to this school here before I transferred. What I found after completing my major is that we have to give back to all the places that gave us so much when we were struggling-‘
Just as I was about to continue speaking, one of the students shouted from across the classroom.
‘Hey Mr. Harrison!’
So, I responded, cordially, because he had an eagerness in his voice.
‘Yes, young man? Your name? And your question.’
‘Name’s Mikey sir. You’re talking about struggling. And I believe you, cuz you’re old and stuff. But uh, are you struggling now?’
I immediately liked Mikey because he was a little brash, a little hilarious and a little honest.
‘Ha. Yes we still struggle as we get older Mikey. The only difference is that now that I’m older, I know most of the material that I’ve studied throughout life. So, my relationships, they’re stronger. My ability to learn new things is higher, because I can already build on the surrounding foundations that I’ve worked so hard to know, and instead of walking in these doors with old friends, I now walk around knowing them as old colleagues.’
Mikey was an anomaly. That entire semester after that first class, and I don’t know if he did this with every teacher or just with me. But every class, he would walk in and as I called his name for attendance, he wouldn’t say, ‘here’ or anything of that nature. It must have been too casual for the boy. But every time that I called his name, he would firmly say, ‘You’re the man Mr. Harrison.’
It was endearing at first, and was exactly the right attitude one would like to start off with before teaching a lesson. But the charisma of the guy was so strong and catchy that eventually when I would take the attendance, almost every student would reply with, ‘You’re the man Mr. Harrison.’
Some of the girls would giggle and casually say ‘here,’ just to accentuate the majority of the other students following Mikey’ s initial lead.
That was one of my favorite classes that I taught. And I thought that I was going back there to give back, but what it ended up being, was a way for others to prove our enduring worth in the moment.
By validating my journey, they themselves were validating their journey. ‘You’re the man Mr. Harrison’ became my catch phrase for those students. ‘Oh. You have Mr. Harrison as a teacher? He’s the man.’ That’s what I walked around with on campus. That’s the confidence years of education validated.
But it was all from a student who had a valuable lesson of his own.
Though we are struggling, and will continue to struggle, by giving back, we become more involved than in the past moment.
Short Stories
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Hey good story!Keep writing!:)
Thank you! I am working on one for a few days, so look forward to that one when it arrives!
Well crafted, good solid story!