Teachers died in the tornado trying to protect their children.
I know you are a TED talk person, clemsy, I wish I could put up a link to "pearl arrendondo - from gangland daughter to star teacher". An inner city student influenced to persevere, come back and start her OWN school, an alternative to the flawed system. I'm sure influencing someone in the next generation to go further. Her teachers at the time probably had no idea what she would come to accomplish because of them.
I have met the "mean" (strict) typing/business teacher from high school twice since I've been home. She's pretty frail and elderly now. Both times (she probably thought I was two different students...) I introduced myself as a former student and thanked her for teaching me. That the things I learned in her class helped me make a living and support my family.
I'd have starved to death if I hadn't known how to type a letter.
My sister and I took my son to meet our mentor after he graduated high school. I guess it was sort of a presentation like the mama horse bringing her newborn up to us to see. I wanted him to see how fine he was, how many ivy leagues were after him, and what he thought his plans might be in the future.
He is really, really, really high up there now, and started to get an uneasy look on his face, so I told him straight out I didn't come to ask him for anything. Not get him in any school or program or anything. I wanted him to see how far his influence went. His decision to pick two little country Indian girls a long time ago.
Blind faith. We can't see that far. Every once in a while though...you get those odd little quirk/quarks of synchronicity / serendipity that just make you wonder if maybe there might not be a point to all this after all....of some sort....maybe.
Teaching is a noble profession! Persevere!
Susan