Oftentimes Jessica is a quiet person. She regularly chooses to sit by herself and work independently. Sometimes we will go a class or two without talking much to each other. Nothing wrong with that! But the really cool thing about Jessica is that, on other days, she is totally engaging, and connected, and talkative. She's kind of unpredictable like that but it's really intriguing. I like it!
To be clear, there is nothing fake about Jessica. On the days when she is more talkative it is not forced or artificial. She says what she believes. She speaks her mind. She talks when and if she has something to say. Because of this, I find that when I speak to Jessica it is always a rich conversation. There is no "talking to fill the space" thing going on. It is a "real" conversation and it is refreshing.
Jessica is a warm and caring person. Here is an example that may be a complete "misread" on my part, but I am going to relate it anyway: a couple of week's ago a student came by to give out awards to some students in my (and Jessica's) PreCalculus 12 class. I can't actually remember what the awards were for... Honour Roll? Perfect Attendance? Anyway, I was acting like a goofball (surprise, surprise) and making a big deal out of the awards. Hand shakes, cheering, posing for photos, etc. Jessica was one of the award winners. So I called her to the front with great fanfare. She walks to the front with this big smile on her face (Jessica has an AMAZING smile. Surely you have noticed this before!?!) and we do the handshake and fake pose for the camera (I don't think anyone was ACTUALLY taking pictures, by the way). So we are standing side-by-side with one arm around the other's torso and Jessica is really hugging my side. It's a confident, affectionate, gentle hug. It only lasts about two seconds but I'm left with the thought: "that was so sweet". It seemed so genuine and REAL. Not like "I guess I better get this over with because my Math teacher is a weirdo" but more like "Mr Wadge is such a goof but I like him anyway". (Again, I might be misreading it. Maybe the whole time Jessica was mortified. But it didn't seem that way... and knowing the sort of person Jessica is I think I may be right).
Jessica, I am so proud of how hard you have worked in my class. I have a lot of admiration for the sort of person you are. You have always been so honest with me. Always very grateful for any assistance I have provided. And you have always seemed very confident in yourself and who you are (I think you have very good reason to be this way, by the way; you are an intriguing and special person). I know that you will go on to do great things. Best of luck to you!