She Told Me I Could Write

In an elementary school where speaking was not encouraged, or often allowed, I was a terrified kid who slipped in and out like a shadow. I do not remember a teacher who had an inspirational moment with me, and I am sure I did not make an impression that would cause any of them to think of me now. 

Other than a middle school band director who was encouraging to me musically, and one teacher who hated me, it wasn't until high school that I had a teacher who even noticed I was sitting in the room. 

She was my 10th grade English teacher. She told me I could write. She said I needed to work on it, but there was something inside of me. 

It happened after I turned in a piece of creative writing homework. I had tackled the writing, not staying within the bounds of the assignment. For the first time in my life, I wrote something I wanted to write (not something that had been prompted and constrained by a teacher's assignment). As I turned it in, I fully expected to receive a failing grade, but I really didn't care. I had written the story in my mind.

The next day it was returned, marked with a big red D and, "See me after class." She explained that the D was for my failure to follow directions, but she loved what I had written. She wanted my permission to submit it to a state writing contest. 

I don't know what happened to my story. I assume it did not win, because I never heard any news about it. But it was near the end of my high school career, (the last day I attended school being sometime in my third month of 10th grade) so there was not much chance of her contacting me.

That story was the last time I wrote anything, other than journal entries, until I started this blog.

I thought of her today when I was reading a book about writing. She not only noticed me sitting in her classroom, she saw me - at least the small amount that I was willing to reveal. She told me I could write (I wasn't sure I believed her at the time, but I wanted it to be true more than I was willing to admit). She took an interest in my thoughts. I didn't fully understand, until I remembered this exchange tonight, how much that meant to me. 

Did you have a special teacher who noticed your gifts and encouraged you?