The time we are living through could definitely be described as "trying," and some days it might feel like it's almost impossible to find anything good in the world. Then on other days, we all get a little lucky. Earlier this week, US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared a poem on Twitter. Alexandria is preparing for the speech she'll give at next week's Democratic National Convention, and she'll have only 60 seconds from start to finish.
The poem by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays is about time and how fleeting it is:
“I only have a minute. Sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, I did not choose it, But I know that I must use it. Give account if I abuse it. Suffer, if I lose it. Only a tiny little minute, But eternity is in it.”
Alexandria also shared that she memorized the poem in second grade … and then her second grade teacher surprised everyone by joining the discussion. Soon, everyone who witnessed their exchange began to reminisce about the teachers who had changed their own lives.
Alexandria's teacher, Ms. Jacobs, chimed in to reassure her former pupil that she could handle the pressure:
"You've got this. Remember all those poems we recited together in 2nd grade? It was prep for this moment. You've got this."
Alexandria was clearly moved by her teacher's comment, and she also seemed super excited to hear from her. She replied:
“Ms. Jacobs! Is that you?! Yes, I do remember the poems we recited in second grade! You prepared me perfectly for this moment. Thank you for teaching me, encouraging my growth, and believing in me as a child.”
In this current moment, a lot of teachers are really feeling the tension that comes with reopening schools during the health crisis. So it was particularly moving when people on Twitter decided to use this exchange between Alexandria and Ms. Jacobs to just praise teachers in general.
One woman spoke about her third grade teacher, Mrs. Swirles:
“I don’t know where you are, Mrs. Swirles, but your week-long lesson on the meaning of the word discrimination, when we went back to school after the summer of the Detroit riots, has never left me. Thank you for opening my third grade heart.”
Another man spoke about Jesus Santiago, the teacher who had a "major impact" on his life:
“This is so beautiful. And in the off chance Mr. Jesus Santiago, my first then fourth grade teacher at Pine Villa Elementary School in Miami, sees my tweet, please hit me up. I’ve been looking for you to thank you for the major impact you’ve had on me.”
One woman thanked her former fifth grade teacher for inspiring her to teach children, too:
“Hi Mr. Williamson, What a 5th grade inspiration you were. Your brilliance as a teacher marked me. I have spent the last 35 years teaching & loving children as you loved us. You constructed a community of different abilities & races in 1971. What a gift to a little black girl. Thx.”
Plenty of people also used this exchange as an opportunity to just talk about how important teachers are to most of us:
“Aw this makes me teary. So awesome that a teacher is following you and you remember her. Teachers have such an impact on their kids. Our society does not value them as much as they should, nor pay them what they are worth. Pure gold here!”
Teachers really do mean everything to many. Nearly all of us can remember at least one teacher who changed our life for the better. Sometimes, those teachers were in our families:
“Oh god. My grandma, a teacher and reading specialist in Queens public schools for decades, died in April. I haven’t managed to cry a lot yet but someone this has me weeping.”
Others shared that a good teacher really does stay with you for the rest of your life:
“This so touches my [heart]. I still remember my second grade teacher and I’m 59 years old. Mrs Shambaugh gave me my lifelong love of reading and gave the best hugs! God bless our educators, let’s value them and their flock; by keeping all safe.”
Other teachers were also moved by the open praise for teachers on such a huge platform:
“Ms. Jacob’s, as a fellow educator this just made my heart so full today to see the impact you had on AOC. So many unknowns this school year. God bless you for your love of teaching and your students. May He keep us all safe.”
After all, in addition to being responsible for classrooms of 20 to 30 children at a time, many teachers are also parents. Many teachers are also the children of members of vulnerable populations, or they themselves are more vulnerable to the virus. It's important to remember that teachers are human — and that teachers really, really matter.
