Here was my big break through this week. Daniel answered a question correctly.

That's it. One simple - very simple, actually - question.

Daniel is just one of those kids who publication education has broken. He's not unintelligent, but years in a dysfunctional, abusive school system have convinced him otherwise. Daniel spent the first month of my class doing anything and everything he possibly could to get kicked out. He spent the next month proving to me he didn't care about his education. He's still tricking many of his teachers into believing this.

And yet yesterday, when I asked the class to work in groups to correct a run-on sentence, Daniel was the first to voice the answer.

I almost feel guilty for being so proud of this, to say it's the highlight of my week. His group was proud too. Daniel sits with five academically-strong girls. When he gave the right answer, this quiet group enthusiastically whooped and hollered, practically giving him a standing ovation. All of our faces lit up - Daniel's the brightest of all.

Does it disturb me that such a small triumph can make me so excited? Yes. Especially this late in the year. He's dangerously behind academically, and all I've suceeded in is getting him to answer one question. ONE.

And yet, the next time he decides to zone out, skip class, or arrive inebriated, I'll remember that moment and hold out hope.

It's a strange addiction - being an educator. The sense of doom and failure can bring on physical illness. The incessant thoughts can become all consuming and prevent sleep. And yet all it takes is one moment of strength - one hit - and all this is forgotten, or at least, worth the price you have pay.

Wisdom from a procrastinating teenager

Today, I had my journalists quickly reflect on the importance of deadlines. I needed to give a pep talk to half the class for missing our latest deadline. Here is the five-minute response from one of my girls.


Deadlines are very imperative to me, not just in journalism, but in life. Not meeting dealines can cause personal problems such as failing a class, but it can cause bigger issues, such as delays with the paper, and problems between the students in class.

As an assistant editor, I have failed you. As a writer, I have failed you. And most importantly, I have failed myself. There is no need to bring up excuses that I have, regardless of whether they are excusable or not because I know they are not what you want to hear. When life throws curve balls at you, you have to learn how to duck and dodge them sufficiently. I have not. I've been letting things as small as sickness to things as big as family issues hold me back this semester. Not just from your class, but other important classes as well.Yet, I still find time to go and be with my crew, to escape the harsh realities I sometimes have to face.

I am failing. I'm failing myself, this class, my teammates, my teacher. But I am not a failure. And I have not failed to a level in which I cannont rise up. Though I have procrastinated a lot, I am trying to catch up for the time that has been lost. It's pretty hard because time doesn't stop for anyone, not even the most desperate person. This is my life, without it I can't survive. And you know my potential. You know what great things I can do, which is why I ask you to not remove me from this class, not to remove me from my spot. If I haven't proved myself yet, I swear to the heavens high above that I will prove myself, and I'm going to start right now. Now excuse me, I have a paper to write.




All that in five minutes, yet she can't get her articles done when she has two weeks. Oh darling.