Guest Blog by Laura Garrigus

Biology Teacher, Cumberland International Early College, Fayetteville, NC.

Last year I taught a very bright young lady. I will call her Katie. At the end of the school year, Katie became very sick and was out of school a lot. Nobody knew what was wrong, but through the testing, pain, nausea and hospital stays, Katie kept a positive attitude and a strong work ethic. She is truly remarkable.

But my post isn’t about Katie. It’s about her classmates.

At the beginning of this school year, after all her treatments, Katie was completely wheel chair bound. She no longer could use her cane or walker. As she sat in my first period biology class, other students witnessed her dizzy spells, her vomiting, her falling asleep due to her medication, and also her determination.

My students have grown because of being in class with Katie. Specifically, based on my observations, students have become more virtuous. They are being understanding, courageous, humble and generous in ways I did not notice, before.

They are understanding of people in situations different from theirs. They are understanding when I have to leave the classroom and carry her to the office.

They are courageous as they become their own person, not needing to conform. They are available to Katie, even if it isn’t “cool.”

They are humbled by being a friend to a person who has gone through what Katie has gone through.

And they are generous. They give to her and to others without expecting anything in return.

I am humbled by what I have seen happening in my classroom. I will never forget Katie, and the impact she has had on me, my student’s, my classroom, and my school.