Welcome back to The Flip Side! Hope you enjoyed the first blog. I am ready to take on my second one. So, here I go. I do have to warn you this one can be considered emotional. But, it says the truth. Then again this is The Flip Side.
I remember back into my childhood when I used to struggle through school and when I used to consider learning a task. A real hard task. School did not come easy to me at all. I had to work extra hard. Either with my teachers or with private tutors. In high school , I remember getting up extra early; so I could get some one on one help with writing my research papers. Thank you Mr. Miller for taking the time to work with me. Even during my undergraduate years at A.S.U, I went for extra help! And, now I can openly say that I also get extra help with writing for my Master's program.
Looking back now, I am not so sure why I thought it was embarrassing to have to get extra help. I later found out in life that many kids were in my same boat. But, when you are a kid, you never want to admit to your peers that you are going through this. I had the courage to admit to some of my peers. My best friends actually.
The one person that I mostly confined in was my late Educational Psychologist that I went to for extra Study Skills help and other help as well. She taught me to love myself and to see the brighter days ahead of me. That these rough waters that I was experiencing, shall too pass.
Not really believing her all that much at first, I would come home after seeing her being frustrated and sad. Why couldn't I be smart? Why was I having so much trouble? What was I doing wrong? Am I the only one out there that has this going on? Will I ever get those good grades like my peers have? I don't know maybe one day, I will have A's on my report card instead of C and some D's. When will this happen? Will it ever happen? Well, it did happen after many visits to her office. I learned to trust her and to confined in her.
I not only had to confined in her, but I also had to trust her on our journey together. I had to trust her that she was there to help me in my time of need. I had to be absolutely sure that I can count on her when the going got tough. And, it did over and over again. Let me tell you something, when you trust someone with the bottom of your heart, magic can happen.
She turned me into the learner that I was meant to be. I might have turned myself into a learner because I took what she gave me and applied it. But, I would feel very selfish if I said it like that. I will always remember her as being the one.
I wish I was still able to thank her every so often and let her know what an impact she had on my life. But, I cannot because a few years back she passed away. I would love to be able to go to her office and tell her about how I graduated from A.S.U and went on to teaching school. And, now onto my Master's. I know she would be so proud of me. She instilled in me that I was smart, creative, and I too can become a learner.
Well, she proved me right. I did become that learner I was meant to be. I finally became that successful student I always wanted to be. Now, I love learning and love school. I can take on any new subject head on and not ever look back. But, look forward.
I also know that she may not be physically with me, but in my heart and mind she will always be with me. I also know that she smiles down from heaven on me all the time. I might have lost her as a friend and a confidante. But, her smile and the life lesson she gave me will stick with me forever.
I give her all the credit to my academic success. Without her, I would not be who I am today! I love you Dr. Clare Jones P.H.D... Don't think I have forgotten about you. Because, I have not.
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