The Day I Got My Wings...

My 4th period class has been unusually trying since the first day of class. Red (we call him this because he has red hair, and he usually acts like a redneck) strolled in, along with his girlfriend. I remembered red from my observation hours last year, so I knew I had to be tough. He is one of those kids who are smart enough to be bored most of class, so he interferes with everyone else's learning, then aces my tests. Anyway, red is not the point of this story today...
My class has 27 boys, 4 girls. They are a span of individuals, 9th -12th grade, some have IEP's, some are in honors. One kid, he is on an IEP, but naturally, computers are his thing, so he always has the highest grade in the class. He helps other students, but only enough for them to hang themselves, then he goes back, changes his code to actually work, and laughs as they turn in his half finished work. He can write beautiful code, but he can't grade someone else's paper. Again though, this blog is not about him...
On Friday, I assigned the class projects from the lesson I had lectured on the day before, and then gave them a study guide for the next lesson which I will lecture on Monday. Class was about half over, when the Jonas brother (he has brown, curly hair, and big eyes like the one brother) asked me to come over to his desk. I always like when he asks me questions because he challenges me to teach. He gets a kick out of the fact that I do, in fact, know how to write code, without looking at the book. So, naturally, I was going through all of the code possibilities as I walking back to his desk.
Imagine my surprise, when instead, he handed me a piece of paper. In the top right corner it said, "2009 Application: Teacher Recommendation Form". Now I don't know how you do things, but when I was in school, I always went to my favorite teacher to ask for recommendations. I obviously accepted the task, took the paper in my hands, and walked away amazed that I had proof I officially touched his life somehow.
In the class period before, I had cut out a contest for one of my girl athletes to become the next face of Soffe (A cheer brand of clothing). She looked at me like she was in shock, and then, she thanked me for encouraging her and told me that perhaps she would major in Business after all.
The night before, I had gone to a volleyball game. I played volleyball in high school, so I really enjoyed watching it, but that wasn't the reason I went. I went because Red's girlfriend had invited me to go. She was going to sing the national anthem before the varsity game, and she wanted me to know that in spite of her poor taste in men, she was both great at programming and singing.
Three students, three days: When I showed the paper to my cooperating teacher, she said that if I were a pilot, that was the day I had officially received my gold pair of wings.
It amazes me how I can be so tired, often feel defeated, trying to stay above water, and yet, be the happiest and most confident person that I am on the exact path the Lord wants me to be traveling. I guess I did receive my teaching wings on Friday, but chances are, God sent His angels to shine up the ones I can't see and to keep me flying when I have no strength to carry on!