Happy Birthday Sara!

My blog today is dedicated to my darling student aide Sara who turned 18 today!

(I told her as part of her birthday present I would blog about her!! )

Sara, in a nutshell, has saved me hours and hours...no, DAYS and DAYS of work over the past two and a half years working as my aide!

She came to me as a sophomore and really didnt say much. I remember thinking that she was really shy. I didnt have her in class yet, although she transfered in eventually. She was incredibly diligent for a sophomore. One of the things that impressed me the most was that she did whatever I needed her to do...from sorting out Hershey's kisses into brown bags to wiping pencil marks off the door. One time she even wrapped my door in Christmas paper! She was very quiet but always so sweet and helpful and never complained.

The summer of her junior year we changed campuses. That summer her and her mom came and helped with the move it. Somehow during that move, Sara found a green chair and claimed it as hers. It found a home in my room and became what I called my "guest chair" but really, it was always Sara's chair. This year Sara began to show me herself more and more through conversation and it was then that I realized that she was not the shy girl she seemed to be but rather a VERY funny, fairly sarcastic and opinionated person, DISGUISED at a quiet person. She aided while I was teaching and again not only spent hours at the copier, but corrected and recorded 100's of papers and of course did the occassional odd job like typing up the entire student body in several fonts for me. She was amazing! I loved seeing her growing up and growing more and more confident. She was dead set on two things that year...passing her AP Biology test, and raising her SAT score so she could get into any college she wanted to...so much so that she even enrolled in the Princeton Review course (I think that is the one...forgive me Sara if I am wrong) And I will say this about Sara....when she has a goal in mind, she is 100 percent dedicated to it.

The funniest times during her junior year though were when she would be at my desk working and a Freshie student would asay something that was like...out in left field. She would just garner a quick look at me and occassionally roll her eyes...communicating to me that, well, she felt my pain!

This year as a senior, she has truly come into her own! I cannot imagine that I wont have her next year to help, to talk, and to laugh with each day. I have seen her become this confidant, happy adult-to-be. Her heart is precious and she is someone who truly gets the things that are imporant and understands the things that will fade away. When I look at her each day I can tell her mood fairly quickly...I love that she is able to share that part of herself. One of the things I love the most is when she is in a sassy and giggly mood...its like my heart gets happy just listening to her being in such a great place. She is a tremendous example of someone who has come to know who she is!

Okay...Im actually a little teary eyed writing this...Each year you have students that you really connect with...kids that share themselves with you and that you come to know and love. That is

Sara to me!

Thank you sweet girl for your years of service to me. You have blessed me in so many ways! I will miss you tremendously next year.

But for now...Happy 18th birthday! I love you very much!!