Though I do not teach Amy this year (sob! sob!) I just had to make her Student of the Week one time. I have so much respect and love for this girl that it HAD to be done.
As everyone must know, Amy is a competitive swimmer (okay, technically she is not swimming competitively this year but she's still an elite swimmer nonetheless). Unless endurance sports is something you have done before, it is hard to appreciate the sacrifice that Amy (and other swimmers, runners, rowers, cyclists, cross-country skiers) has invested in her sport. Tired at 5:00 am? Too bad! Get up anyway! Water feels cold? Get in and warm up with 1000 metres. Muscles ache? Suck it up and head out for a run (oh, and it's pouring rain out). Exhausted by the day's workouts (yes, that's plural)? No sleeping yet; there's homework to do! Big party tonight? You can't go - got a meet in Victoria to get to.
To be successful in such a sport one must show tremendous resiliency, perseverance and grit. Amy embodies all of these things... and not only in her swimming. During the two years she was in my class, Amy showed great determination to learn her math. It wasn't always easy for her but she did what was needed to do, in spite of (I'm sure) being fatigued, sleep-deprived, and short of time on many days.
When I used to compete in triathlons, I used to work-out a lot. One of the reasons I gave it up (though I loved it) is that, after a particularly tough workout day (6 hour bike ride or 3 hour run, for example) I was always tired and irritable for a day or two. I had no patience whatsoever. I'd get so annoyed by students who really weren't doing much wrong at all (forget their textbook, late for class, etc). My training was impacting my mood... not good.
I have NEVER seen Amy like this. She has never been anything but jovial, warm, and endearing with me. And funny! Very, very funny!! It says something about the sort of person she is that while many other swimmers at our school are falling asleep in class, the girl who probably swims the most of all is attentive, enthusiastic, and making jokes all day.
Here's how much I love, Amy: she is the ONLY person on this planet who I ever willingly exchange fist bumps with. Once you hit the age of approximately 35 (especially if you are a nerdy, white math teacher), things like high fives, dabbing, etc just feel (and LOOK!) awkward and wrong. But for some reason, when she was in grade 8, Amy and I started exchanging fist bumps... and it's never ended! And I love it!
[A word of warning to the rest of you: don't even try to engage me in a fist bump of your own. I will either ignore you completely or grit my teeth and oblige but I will feel awkward... and so will you! It's only Amy's fist bumps that feel natural.]
Amy, you know that I think you are an amazing swimmer and a great student. But, (much) more importantly, I think you are a wonderful person. I really miss having you in my class but I love seeing you from time to time in the hallways. With your tremendous work ethic and commitment to chasing after your goals, I know that you will be very successful in the future. Congratulations for everything you have ALREADY accomplished in your life. I am so very proud of you!