I went into education because I love kids.
All kids.
The brightest of the brightest and the kids who struggle daily and the kids who fall right, smack in the middle.
The kids of the millionaires and the kids who come to us from the homeless shelter and the kids who define the middle class.
The “jocks”, the “nerds”, the “proud crowd,” the “burnouts.”
Why do I love them all?
Because, the truth is, you can’t categorize a kid.
No child fits into any one category.
You can’t look at a kid and automatically make a decision about how he or she will behave or achieve.
It’s the beauty of youth.
Last night, the seniors in the high school in the district where I teach graduated.
I knew them all four years ago when they were middle schoolers, and taught most of them. Those who I didn’t teach, I knew in another capacity, from the play, Student Council, or from the DC trip.
I loved them all.
I think last night’s valedictorian speech is the absolute best demostration I’ve seen in a long time about how you cannot classify a kid based on one criteria.
Think you know how a valedictorian is going to give a graduation speech?
Think again.
Watch this video and I think you’ll understand why I love kids.
