Teacher Appreciation: Knowing My True Beauty
I will never forget about this woman of true strength. Her name was Mrs. Walton, my 6th grade Social Studies teacher. Some may say she was firm and strict, but I believe it was all necessary. Now, I was not the ideal “favorite student”. I can admit that. I talked a lot and I was always up and walking around. The only thing that really helped me out was that my grades were fantastic and I was always on the honor roll. I was a social butterfly! I did have one problem though. The year previous to that, there was a boy and he would always pick on me because of my dark skin. I never really understood that because the boy was darker than me and was known for being rude and not having many friends. It took a toll on me though. I tried not to let it get to me, and I pretended his words did not hurt when they actually did. I would find myself at home looking in the mirror wondering why my skin was so dark and ugly. This really hurt my self esteem. The taunting did continue, but I ignored it not telling my parents, or anyone at that, and just kept it in the back of my mind. The next year I was in 6th grade, and my Social Studies teachers Mrs. Walton was known for not being the nicest among the teachers. I, personally, was not too fond of her either. Because of my excessive talking, I was isolated from the rest of the class and had to sit in a cubicle alone. I remember one particular day I had gotten in trouble (to this day I cannot remember what I had did) and she took me aside and said, “Why do you keep getting yourself in trouble? You are a beautiful and intelligent chocolate girl. You know they say, the blacker the berry the sweeter the juice.” That comment she made changed my life, literally. After that, I looked at myself in a new light. I started to look at myself and say that I am pretty. My skin is gorgeous. If Mrs. Walton had not have said that to me on that memorable day of mine, I do not know what I would have done. Today, I look at myself and I have the confidence to know that I am beautiful inside and out. My self image is exactly where it needs to be. Thank you Mrs. Walton for showing me that.