Saying that 2020 is a year like no other is an understatement. It’s been especially different for teachers and students as we have all tried to navigate social distancing and distance learning. Even now the class of 2020 is still trying to complete their graduation ceremonies around the country.

My current students will be going through one of these delayed ceremonies this week. I am sure they are uncertain of how it will all play out just as I am. Undoubtedly, this will be very different. Nonetheless, they will graduate and go on with their lives and be able to tell everyone that they were the kings and queens of Senior Skip Day.

However, this isn’t a story about my current students or even their future. This is a story about my former students.

You Never Know

I was watching a graduation live-stream of my former students tonight. Many of them I haven’t spoken to in a long time, and most of them I have not spoken to since I changed schools over two years ago. I had not been told to watch prior to their ceremony, but there I am listening to my former students as they prepare to receive their diplomas. As different students gave their speeches, I hear my name. My name! A teacher who hasn’t taught any of them in five years. A teacher no longer at the same school.

One of them chose to speak about their memory of my class. To say I am honored is an understatement.

My former student didn’t know I’d be listening. She likely wasn’t saying it for my well-being. She was simply expressing herself and her memories to her fellow classmates, parents, and current faculty.

Well, I was touched. Everyone likely can recall a teacher that was special to them. But, what few understand is that teachers remember students who were special to them as well.

What Few Teachers Will Say

I’m here to say, students…you never really know what you mean to your teachers.

What this graduating senior doesn’t know is that I still have the sheet of paper where she wrote down her research for why my beard is red but my hair is blonde. I didn’t assign that to her. She did it out of her own curiosity, and probably to show me that she WOULD find out. And, she did.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s been in my thoughts and prayers for quite a while because I could not imagine the heartbreak she has felt after losing people so close to her.

What she doesn’t know is that I did listen to her speech, and I am proud of her. I am not only proud of her to have mentioned me in her speech, but I am proud that she had the strength to give the speech. She is a successful 2020 graduate and I am proud of her. I’m even proud that one of her strongest memories of my class is crying during The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

I don’t know what her future holds. I don’t know how COVID-19 will ultimately change the world. However, I am confident she will be successful, and I am confident society will keep moving on.