Last week, I received one of the biggest compliments of my life. The source was a small, bright sixth-grade student I’ve been student-teaching since December. Elijah is an avid football fan. He loves the game and idolizes the players.
The conversation went like this:
“Miss Hunter?”
“Yes, Elijah?” I stopped at his art table.
“Miss Hunter, have you ever been a football player?” he asked.
“No, Elijah, I haven’t.”
“Are you sure, Miss Hunter?”
“Yes,” I answered. “I’m sure.”
“You’ve never played football?”
“No, never.”
“Well, Miss Hunter.” Elijah paused for a moment or two. “You look exactly like a quarterback from Oklahoma.”
At that moment, I knew I was quantum cool in this student’s eyes. Regardless of my age, gender, or size, I was as cool as an Oklahoma quarterback. At this very intense time in my master’s program, I have laughed and smiled everyday for a week, thanks to Elijah.
[Elijah is a fictitious name].