For some people, this would be sad simply because it's a death. Death is a sad thing. You know other people are hurting because they have lost a loved one, therefore you feel empathy. But this is so much more than that. This woman is part of the reason I want to be a teacher.
At the time, she did so much for me. But as an adult, looking back, I can see how incredible she was and how much she taught me!
You see, many students thought she was so mean. But the ones who knew her saw how great she was. She was a teacher who had expectations and demanded that you meet them. She didn't tolerate disrespect. She had rules in her classroom...and the rules applied to everyone, not just the students she liked the least. She treated everyone the same. (Kind of sounds like my classroom...)
Until one day...
Fifth grade was my absolute WORST year. (socially speaking) Fifth grade girls are vicious and caddy. I was left out of things, cut out of friendships, pushed out of conversations, ...you name it. I hated school. I hated life. I didn't want to be there. For a little girl who loved to learn, that was a big problem.
Ola Reed showed me love when I needed it the most. She showed me compassion when I felt like nobody cared about me. She made me want to be at school. She stopped others from mistreating me and even dished it back to them once. **Once to my knowledge. If she did this in front of me, who knows how many times she did it! If I'm being honest, I'm hoping many times!** I will never forget the look on my "friends'" faces when she started childishly pointing and laughing at them from across the room.
"How does that feel?" she asked them. "How does it feel to have someone laughing at you, talking about you, not knowing what they're saying?! It doesn't feel good, does it? Why would you want to make someone else feel that way? You need to think about how your actions affect others."
Here I am, teaching fifth graders. Here I am, watching fifth grade girls (and boys) relentlessly torture each other. Here I am, listening to mean comments whispered behind backs. And I hear Ms. Reed..."why would you want to make someone else feel that way?!...think about how your actions affect others." I get to sit down with my students when they are hurting or angry and I get to work through their feelings with them. It's something that I understand all too well. It's something that I would not have survived if it weren't for Ms. Reed.
With a heavy heart, I will travel to the church for her memorial service tomorrow morning. With tears in my eyes, I will watch her family say goodbye, for I have walked down that road before. But I rejoice at the opportunity to have known such an amazing woman. I am hopeful that one day, I can touch someone's life the way she touched mine. They say you have to truly be passionate about teaching if that's the career you choose - she was. And she will continue to inspire me and fuel my passion for years to come.
Rest in peace, Ms. Reed. I look forward to seeing you again and thanking you once again for all you have done in my life.
