"Please See Me:" A Heartfelt Letter From Your "Favorite" Student

Dear Teacher,

Please see me.

See that I am here to learn, not because I already know.

See that I am not my behaviors or my labels or my struggles

And that any and all of these are just me trying to tell you something important that I may not have the words for yet

See that it is not that I don't know how to do this or even that I can't

But that maybe I was just given the wrong tools for the job

(Show me one person who could change a tire with a disposable spoon and I have a sandbox to sell you in Florida...)

See that I am not what I did last year

Or even what I did last Tuesday

See that I am not my sibling or my friend or that kid in your class six years ago that I remind you of

See that I am not the sum of many parts with some still missing,

I am whole, I am complete, even if I am just three feet tall

See that I am worthy of second chances

Third chances

Seven hundred and ninety-fourth chances

See that I wish I could just erase all of my mistakes

But that an eraser that size would never fit inside my pencil case

See that my parents aren't clueless (although if you are a parent, you know they all are)

It's not that they don't see this, it's that they do. Magnified at 400 percent.

See that although I also drive them crazy (and trust me, it's a short trip)

That they would go to the ends of the Earth for me

So please just go to the end of the school year

Or even just to the end of the day

See that I am not the thrown toy or the meltdown or the disruption to your class

See that when the tantrum happened, that I didn't choose it, in fact it's the last thing in the world I would choose

It doesn't feel any better to me than it does for you

See that I just want to do the Right Thing and be the Big Kid

But right now I am still small

And this little body was not designed for sitting still and being quiet, for being seen but not heard

See that I walk in here every day holding a clean slate for you

And do the same for me

Because you are already The Teacher

You are already Who You Are

And I am still Becoming

In all my wiggles and giggles and mischief and strife

I am still Becoming

And I want to be so many things

Sometimes all at the same time

Sometimes I even want to be you

So please see me

Not as what I did

Or who I was

But as what I am

And who I will Become.

Love,

Your "Favorite" Student