First is worst, second is best

That is one of those sayings that my kids throw at each other  - I suppose to make the second place finisher feel better about themselves.  Is there really anything wrong with finishing second?  Well this week I saw first hand how second place can make a world of difference in a person's life.

If you follow my blog you know that I have not exactly been thrilled to have this long term EA (para ) job.  It isn't the students that I work with, it is the loss of my freedom (so to speak).  But since I started in March, God has given me so many moments that I would have never experienced if I hadn't been working at school. Well this week was no exception.

Monday was Track and Field day for our 5th graders.  It was a beautiful day and we spent all of it outside at the high school track.  The student that I am assigned to is a typical 5th grade girl - everything is boring and she doesn't want to "have to do anything".  She also doesn't want to be the center of attention.  So at each event that we were required to do, she asked me if she had to, told me she didn't want to and in some cases chose to do the worst she could just to get it over with.  And that was how we spent our morning.

After lunch, we were in line for the 100 yard hurdles.  We had to wait 25 minutes for her turn.  There was a lot of grumbling about waiting, not wanting to do it, her legs getting sunburned, it would be boring, etc.  But I made her stay.  At last it was her turn.  I do have to say that she is small and strong and when they said go - she flew.  Something clicked in her and she let her body do what it was meant to do.  She finished way ahead of the second place person in her heat.  I was proud of her but of course she just brushed it off and away we went to our next event.

At the end of the day when we had returned to our classroom, they handed out the ribbons.  There were over 200 5th graders competing and some of them are natural born athletes or have worked really hard for track and field day.  You can imagine both of our surprised reactions when my students name was called for 2nd place in the Girls 100 yard hurdles.  2nd out of roughly 100 girls who competed in that event.

Once the shock wore off, I asked her if she had ever done that well before.  She said that she had never won anything before in her life.  I believe it. I know that she has several brothers and sisters and a single mom raising them.  There are not a lot of opportunities for extra curricular activities.  This one event gave her a glimpse of something she has a natural gift for.  I sent her home on the bus with a little smirk on her face but a huge smile inside.

The next morning I met her at the bus and asked if she had showed her mom the ribbon.  She said yes and that her mom was taking to work with her to show her friends. This was the moment God gave me to see a positive in her life.  I have been with her for two months and this was the first time I have seen her like this. My student experienced something new that day - PRIDE.  She has struggled with many things this school year but this second place track and field ribbon gave her the opportunity to experience pride in her ability.  Even if it was just for that day - she finally felt what everyone should get to feel at some point- that public acknowledgement that you are good at something. 

I know that God uses me in different situations and I have come to accept that I am meant to be working with this girl through the end of the school year.  I have prayed many times that I could have some insight into how to deal with her issues and what I needed to do to help her.  Although God hasn't given me any clear cut instructions, I believe that I am there to serve as a positive female role model, perhaps a surrogate school mom, a friend, part of the base of her school support system and what I can always hope - a sister in Christ.  I do not hide my faith at school - I wear a cross necklace, I talk about going to church - the kids know that I am a Christian  - and although I have never told my student that I have prayed for her - I hope God lets her know somehow that someone at school does care about her.

Back to the saying - First is worst, Second is best.  This week I truly believe that second is best.