Thank you for sticking with me

November 8, 2011

(10:11pm)

We were supposed to have our meeting today, but the college field trip interfered with it, so it was postponed. I have a whole lot to discuss. I also need to find out a good time to meet with my mentee about her work. I can't ever seem to find her (not your fault, by the way, if you're reading this, Kayla).

I hung out with Mrs. Cathirell after school today to search for schools and scholarships. We found a couple before we had to break. She asked me why I used to hate her in 9th grade. I had issues in 9th grade. I only hated her because 1) she was a white teacher who seemed too nice and jovial to teach a room full of rowdy black kids, 2) she kept refering to us as “friends”, 3) I miss interpreted AVID's acronym (Advancment Via Indivisual Determination) to mean “a class for kids who are too dumb or need help getting to college”, and 4) she was always in my face, trying to bring me into a group discussion, read my sentences, or get me to talk. She even pulled me aside a couple of times to just have random conversations with me. And she would be VERY bubbly, like a hyper “white” high school girl!!! It would bug me how much she paid attention to me. I remember one conversation we had one time as I was walking into the library during lunch:

Mrs. Cathirell: Oh, hi Caleb! (From her office, smiling widely, waving, bubbly)

Me: Um...hi. (Confused, why is she SOOO hyper all the time?)

MC: Hey, guess what. (Approaching me, has papers in her hands)

Me: [silence; questioning/stolid stare]

MC: I met your sister today, Jacquylin (pronouncing wrongly).

Me: It's Jacquynn (JAW-QUINN).

MC: She seems nice. Are you twins?

ME: No, I was held back a year. (Nonchalantly)

MC: Oh. Do you have other siblings?

ME: 2 sisters at Deer Park and an older brother here.

MC: Micah?

Me: yeah.

MC: I would have never guessed. He looks nothing like you.

Me: We're adopted.

MC: (gasping almost excitingly with her hands on her chest) That's so cool!

Me: (Jaw dropping and face shifting from nonchalant and stolid to a bitter “How the heck is that so cool” face)

MC: One of my bestfriends is adopted (either ignoring my face shift or picking it up).

Me: (silent, face shifts back to nonchalant)

MC: All of your siblings are adopted?

Me: Yeah.

MC: Oh, cool. (Flashing a smile) So what class do you have?

Me: Lunch.

MC: You're not going?

Me: No

MC: Do you ever go to lunch?

Me: Sometimes.

MC: Well, you should eat something during the day, it's not healthy to go without eating.

Me: (Silence, looking around)

MC: Well, if you ever want to talk, my office is always open.

Me: Okay (not really focused on her, wanting her to stop talking).

MC: I enjoy having you in AVID. I mean, if only you would talk more. You look so scared and uncomfortable in class. You're a good student, Caleb, I wish I had more like you.

Me: :) (though I try hard not to, I smile. More like blush. Trust me, I'm dark, but I still turn red when I blush)

MC: I gotta go see Doña real quick, so I'll see you later. It was nice talking to you.

Me: You too.

Another one I can remember was after 1st quarter 9th grade. I was about to leave school when she caught up to me:

MC: Hey, Caleb.

Me: Hi, Mrs. Cathirell.

MC: You got a C as your 1st quarter grade in AVID.

Me: (I chuckle)

MC: You would have a B if you did your bloody Learning Logs (smiling and looking at me afterwards)

Me: (eyes wide from shock of her say that, then I laugh softly)

MC: You headed home?

Me: yeah, I live in those Red Run apartments.

MC: Oh cool. (Smiling) Well, have a good day.

Me: You too.

But, besides the journals, my favorite day was field day. I love that day. I choked on a bagel during the bagel eating contest, but rocked it during the relay. I wore all under armor that day. I kinda hate this photo because my eyes were closed.