Resilience in Practice

I received some exciting news a couple days ago.  One of my students that has been battling Ewing's Sarcoma, has been told she is cancer free.  I remember saying that cancer didn't stand a chance against this kid in a Friday Afternoon video.  Knowing Piper like I did, I knew this was not a bold statement.  I knew she would beat her diagnosis and she did.

I lost a teacher to cancer several years ago.  If you have not been through this a school family, it is tough.  In a school setting you see students and teachers everyday.  You go through so many ups and downs that it bonds you.  When a serious situation like this happens, your school family takes it personal.  Our school and community rallied around Piper like they always have for others.  These are the moments that make you proud.  Everyone works towards helping the family and raising money for the path of uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.

I'm going to be a little selfish though and share what I got to see out of this outstanding young lady.  In my position you get to see kids do amazing things and make you proud to be where you are and doing the work that you do.  Despite all the craziness, she showed up.  She missed very few days of school and made the honor roll.  She only left school early when she could no longer physically stand during the day and still she could throw you a smile that would take your worries away.  One day she left early and I had just turned a young man away from wanting to go home.  He had a headache.  Sometimes I wish he had been there when she was in there to see how tough she was.  She was constantly showing resiliency and I hope the rest of our school family saw it like I did.

At Central, we say the word resilient all the time.  Did we catch it in practice?  Right under our noses we were getting an education, but did we know it?  I stole this picture from Jon Adkins' Facebook page because someday, I knew I would be telling her story.  Thank you to everyone that supported her, but most importantly I would like to thank Piper.  Thank you for your enduring spirit during tough times.  Thank you for smiling at my poor attempts at jokes in hopes of making you feel better.  Thank you for your example.  Thank you for inspiring others.  Thank you for being resilience in practice.  Now that you have beaten cancer, who knows what the possibilities are for you.  I know this 8th grader has left me with lessons I can teach to countless others down the road.