Happy little surprise

One of my students, Michael, was a senior this year. He's got some pretty serious issues and I've worked hard most of the year to help him stay afloat because he's been hospitalized a couple of times for psychiatric care. The last three months of school, I gave up my planning period in order to do an independent study with him of one of his classes -- his teacher was not particularly able to accommodate his special needs, and Michael was so anxious about it that it was causing him to have problems. I let him come to my classroom where he could be peaceful, and I assigned him independent research projects under the approval of his other teacher.

Michael is a smart, tender-hearted, hard-working boy who deeply desires to reach his potential in life despite mental illness. He's not one of the ones who has a bad attitude; no, he's cooperative and gracious and mild-mannered... you know, one of the ones you'd do anything for, because he actually appreciates it and wants to do well. His mom is a teacher and a pianist, just like me (she actually does play the piano at the Von Maur department store as a side job -- something I've always wanted to do), so we've gotten along well.

Last week was the seniors' last week of school, so I haven't seen Michael all week. Today he popped in to see me and handed me a card. I asked him if he'd been sleeping in every day, and he grinned. "Yeah," he said. I opened the card, and inside was a very sweet note from his mom & dad:

Thanks so much for all you have done for Michael this year. He really would not be graduating without your help. Know that you are appreciated and you do make a difference!

Underneath their note was a scrawly signature from Michael himself, and in the card was a P.F.CHANGS GIFT CARD!!!!!!! Michael grinned. "Remember when I asked you your favorite restaurant?" he said.

That was my happy place for the day.