January 2006

A wonderful violin student will be terribly missed...

January 10, 2006 00:42

Today was the first day back from winter break for my violin students.

From the very second I saw them walk in, something didn't feel right. None of them were happy and in high spirits like usually were. Usually everyone has a smile on their face as they walk in and greet me. I brushed it off as disappointment about being back in school instead of home sleeping in and playing video games. Honestly I was disappointed that winter break was over as well.

As I was tuning the violins, a student named Bethany told me "Jacquan had to go to Texas and she won't be coming for violin anymore" Thinking that was odd I asked "Oh, why won't she be coming to violin anymore" and she replies "Because her mom died, so she and her sister have to move." Immediately my heart sank. To make matters worse the student said "Jacquan's dad also died two years earlier..." When Bethany told me all this, I could see the hurt in her face even more so because she was very close friends with Jacquan. Throughout class Bethany still tried hard to be happy and even occasionally smile.

The violin students told me that Jacquan asked the principal to have an assembly that day so she could say good-bye to all her friends and teachers before she left for Texas. She left contact information for all the students and teachers to write her. I'm definitely going to do just that. I just wish I could’ve said good-bye.

Every time I think it about it, it makes my heart sad. I have gotten to know Jacquan over the past few months. I saw something special in her from the very moment I met her. She was always very energetic, cheery, and enthusiastic about learning. She had one of those positive personalities that everyone loved to be around. She was one of my favorite students because her eagerness made teaching more enjoyable for me. Sometimes I wonder why bad things happen to good people...This was a bright little girl who despite everything tried to make others happy.

It's going to be hard teaching those students each day knowing Jacquan is missing. I will truly miss her presence and energy she brought into the class. Loosing a parent at 11 years old is such a terrible thing...and she had lost both of them. It's been nothing but obstacles for that little girl to overcome. She lost not just one but two parents and of all times..around Christmas, she was so poor that they had to collect money for the burial of her mother, and she also had to leave her friends, people she knew well, to live with relatives in another state. I could only imagine how difficult things are for her now.

Having to witness this teaches me to be more grateful for the friends and family I have and how life has been much better for me. By reading this I hope then when things seem like they're going bad for you, you'll think about this little girl and realize that any problems you or I may face is nothing compared to what this little girl has had to go through. She can definitely use prayers and thoughts at this time.

I will miss you Jacquan. I wish you the best of luck in your new life.

Paul aka "Mr. Grant"

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