I know many of you have probably come across YouTube videos of the PS22 choir out of Staten Island, NY... This public school choir have 31,000,000 video views since about 2006... I guess I am late to the party.
But when I watched this group of 5th Graders an hour ago, I was not only amazed and thrilled at their talent but eventually had tears finding their way down my cheeks. While watching this one of theirs, I stopped watching the kids and started watching Mr. B., their teacher who started the choir for 5th graders in 2000.
The smile on his face - and the energy in his stance - is just plain inspiring.
To see that kind of passion pouring out onto so many kids is heart-bursting.
At supper last night, the topic of conversation was dominated by a cool gesture of teacher-kindness in my daughter Eme's day (you know who you are). To see the smile and appreciation on her face while she told the story of her teacher's attention and generosity was... so, so cool. I know she is storing these memories in her heart and they will be paid-forward to others for years to come - for DECADES! Who doesn't have moments like that from their childhood past, that they aspire to rise to in their adult days?! AWESOME!
I just want to say Thank YOU to all the teachers out there for YOUR energy and passion.
Thank YOU for the moments you are pouring fertilizer (spelled L-O-V-E) on the kids in your classroom (often my own). Thank YOU for every tough talk, every encouraging note, every high five, and even every uncomfortable-moment-taken that YOU are building the character and direction of these young lives. Your blood, sweat and tears investment in our kids IS SO APPRECIATED. THANK YOU!
I am sorry you don't hear this from busy parents like me often enough... But YOU ROCK! ;-)