A Good First Week!

This is a picture that a student drew for me. She thought enough of me to do this
the first week of school. Tears!!

This past week, God opened the flood gates, and the DC area got drenched. It rained, and I mean really rained from Monday until Friday. However, on Friday, it rained, rained, rained, but around 1o'clock, God showed us his Mercy; the sun came out, and the weekend was absolutely beautiful.

This really cool thing happened, the rain did not damper the first week of school. I met all of my students, and I must admit, I am already in love. My freshmen were bright-eyed and bush-tailed and captured my heart instantly. My AP 12English students appeared nervous and anxious when I explained to them their work load, but I let them know that I was 100% in this with them, and they seem to relax, but only a little.

My work week ended with me receiving an email from one of my seniors from last year thanking me for pushing him to "dig deep." He also wanted me to know that he received an "A" on his first college paper. I sat and looked at this email for awhile and thought: "This is why I do this job, and do it with love."



My classroom with the big windows.

Books and Desks!

This week I was able to keep to a conscious eating schedule; I have a NEW refrigerator in my room. I was able to do three workouts with Berhane, the best trainer in the world, and I am back on my every Thursday hair appointment schedule. In the midst of all of this, I was able to meet up with friends Thursday and Friday nights to hang out.

Saturday, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Johnetta Cole, a living legend, at the fabulous, good-old, old-fashioned Historical Black College (HBCU) football game between Morehouse College and Howard University.



Howard University celebrating after their Victory!

Dr. Cole turned and looked me in the eyes and asked me:

"What do you do for a living?"

I told her, and she said to little old me:

 "You are a SHERO."

I said "No, not really, but I do love my job"

She repeated "Yes, you are a SHERO."

This was very humbling coming from a modern day GIANT.

Dr. Johnette Cole is an anthropologist who collected data in Africa, took Spelman College to a whole 'nother level as their president and has done so many other greats things, and she thinks that I am a SHERO. Very humbling to say the least!

One of my heroes: Johnette Cole, ex-president of Spelman College.

I started my Sunday at church with a great 9/11 message: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.

After church, I met friends in DC for my favorite festival: Adams Morgan Day.

With Friends at Adams Morgan Day!

Me with the owner of New Orleans Cafe in Adams Morgan!

Right now, I am completely beat, but my dear friend, Dr. Semple, stated that "If you are not tired at the end of a day, then you ain't living."

So, I guess I am living.

If this week is any indication of what is to come this school year, I have a whole lot to look forward too!