This week I am sitting with my two beloved groups of seniors through the torture that is their Senior Leaving Examination (Maturita.) The last four years have built to this--one hour of oral exams for which they have to prepare 100 different topics from fields like Czech language and literature, English, German, Spanish, Chemistry, Biology...
It's amazing how so much study can come down to one morning of your life when a committee of people more or less decide your value as a scholar. But not your value as a human being.
A few days ago, I sent a heartfelt letter via email to all my senior students (see the next blog entry below). In it, I shared about my journey of teaching them in the last three years and my gratitude for the ways they stretched me and the experiences we shared. I mentioned favorite memories of them and finished with some life advice from my own experience. Cheesy, perhaps, but it was very sincere. I sent it off, wondering if they would simply brush it aside, or actually be touched by the words.
Yesterday morning before church, I received this reply from Veronika (in the center of the picture above):
"Dear Mrs. Thomas,
I´m really sorry that I´m answering You so late, but I´ve read Your e-mail just before a moment. You´re right when You say that this week is crazy. It is VERY, VERY, VERY CRAZY!!! I have to still study a lot, but when I read Your message, I MUST answer You. I have never received such a beatiful email.... So, I would like to say You a lot, but I don´t know how to explain in Czech, so in English it´s harder :-) When I was in first year I wasn´t content with our English teacher. Lessons were sometimes boring and I think I didn´t learn a lot. When I was in the second year, You started to teach us. I remember when I firstly heard about new English teacher I was really excited. "Wow, my English lessons will be lead by an American teacher, it will be great!!" I was really looking forward to our first lesson. And it wasn´t great, it was WONDERFUL!!!!!! And not just the first one, but all lessons during that three years. It´s true that sometimes I was a little bit tired, especially in Friday when we had two lessons and I wasn´t so active. But You always suprised us when You said: "Let´s relax, watch some movie, it´s Friday"... I was so grateful to You!
Your lessons were fun for me. I am very interested in American culture, much more that in the British, so I liked listening You teaching us about NY, American festivals or parades. I really loved it. Also vocabulary was a horror for me in the past, but I liked when You taught me that. I remember the words like "5-o´clock shadow"-I told about this word to all members of my family, I didn´t know that before :-)
Now, after three years with You, I can say that You really taught me a lot of English language. Especially to understand. Now I can watch some TV program inenglish and I know almost all of the words!!! I am so excited!!! I would like to thank You so much for it, because I believe that the good knowing of foreign language is much more important that anything else. I will be really glad when we will be in touch. I will never forget You and Your awsome lessons....
Well, now I have to return to studing, I´m SO afraid of Monday morning when my leaving exam is happening. I hope I won´t disappoint You......Thank You so much
Enjoy all moments of Your life
Veronika Vaňousová"
Now, who said teaching was a thankless job? When I read this email I thought, "I have had my own leaving exam as their teacher and I have passed." Praise God for the ways he grows us all and the moments when we can see that he is touching others through us.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Letter to my Graduating Seniors
May 9, 2006
Dear 4D,
It's hard for me to believe that I won’t be having any more lessons with you after what feels like such a long time. I walked away from our last class feeling a heaviness in my heart and wishing that I could have said more…communicated better what a privilege and blessing it has been for me to spend this time with you over the last three years.
So, if you'll let me take another five minutes of your time during your crazy study week, I would like to add a few more thoughts to what I've already said. I've always been a person who feels like I communicate myself better through writing than speaking. It was a busy time in our last lesson and, truthfully, I felt a little bit shy. So, here is my second chance…
First, I want you to know that I really meant everything I said to you in the little notes that I wrote. Each one of you has a special place in my heart and it was a joy for me to tell you more personally what I love and will miss about you. I hope others in your life also share with you their praise and thanks, but even if they don't, I wanted you to have it at least from me.
You are a special group of young people and it has been so much fun for me to get to know you better. I remember the first time I met you—a quiet but enthusiastic group who would be "all mine," unlike most of the groups I taught whom I saw only once a week. It felt like a big responsibility and I was afraid I might not give you everything you needed. In fact, my first year of teaching was a pretty scary time for me! You made it worthwhile and you helped me to feel welcome and appreciated at the school. Thank you for that.
I have fun memories of some of the skits you acted for me, the funny stories you wrote, our joint frustration over confusing grammar (you did okay in the end!), your creativity, your smiles, your laughter… If you ask my husband, he'll tell you how fondly I have always spoken of my time with your class. I will never forget you.
When I think about you graduating and moving on, there are so many things I want to tell you. Most of all, I encourage you to live in and enjoy the present moment and not worry too much about the future. Be honest, faithful, and real in love and know that mutual commitment with someone for a lifetime is a special gift that gives back to you more than you give.(It's also a lot of hard work, but worth every bit!) Don't worry about pleasing people—do what you know is right. But also truly listen to the important people in your life, with an open heart and open mind. Have a heart of compassion for others and be patient and slow to judge people. Be sensitive to your inner heart and don't ignore the breath of God inside you. Whether you believe it or not, I know God's deep love for each one of you. I hope some day you will know it too.
I will miss you, but I will continue to pray for each of you, as I have for the last three years.
Many blessings,
Jenny Thomas
Dear 4D,
It's hard for me to believe that I won’t be having any more lessons with you after what feels like such a long time. I walked away from our last class feeling a heaviness in my heart and wishing that I could have said more…communicated better what a privilege and blessing it has been for me to spend this time with you over the last three years.
So, if you'll let me take another five minutes of your time during your crazy study week, I would like to add a few more thoughts to what I've already said. I've always been a person who feels like I communicate myself better through writing than speaking. It was a busy time in our last lesson and, truthfully, I felt a little bit shy. So, here is my second chance…
First, I want you to know that I really meant everything I said to you in the little notes that I wrote. Each one of you has a special place in my heart and it was a joy for me to tell you more personally what I love and will miss about you. I hope others in your life also share with you their praise and thanks, but even if they don't, I wanted you to have it at least from me.
You are a special group of young people and it has been so much fun for me to get to know you better. I remember the first time I met you—a quiet but enthusiastic group who would be "all mine," unlike most of the groups I taught whom I saw only once a week. It felt like a big responsibility and I was afraid I might not give you everything you needed. In fact, my first year of teaching was a pretty scary time for me! You made it worthwhile and you helped me to feel welcome and appreciated at the school. Thank you for that.
I have fun memories of some of the skits you acted for me, the funny stories you wrote, our joint frustration over confusing grammar (you did okay in the end!), your creativity, your smiles, your laughter… If you ask my husband, he'll tell you how fondly I have always spoken of my time with your class. I will never forget you.
When I think about you graduating and moving on, there are so many things I want to tell you. Most of all, I encourage you to live in and enjoy the present moment and not worry too much about the future. Be honest, faithful, and real in love and know that mutual commitment with someone for a lifetime is a special gift that gives back to you more than you give.(It's also a lot of hard work, but worth every bit!) Don't worry about pleasing people—do what you know is right. But also truly listen to the important people in your life, with an open heart and open mind. Have a heart of compassion for others and be patient and slow to judge people. Be sensitive to your inner heart and don't ignore the breath of God inside you. Whether you believe it or not, I know God's deep love for each one of you. I hope some day you will know it too.
I will miss you, but I will continue to pray for each of you, as I have for the last three years.
Many blessings,
Jenny Thomas
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