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On Silly Childish Stickers

I scribbled quickly As they wrote their final exam Little notes of appreciation A special individualized message Thanking each student For having been in my class And for bringing me joy Reminding each one Of the potential that lies within For each is a remarkable individual A personalized message Of encouragement And a shared Bible verse Psalm 37: 4 This was a special class Made up of pastors A journalist An architect Adults from different walks of life Some married Others single Some shy Others bold All wanting to become Better writers What an amazing group My French came in handy With my students from Algeria How I loved their French accent As they tried to pronounce The bothersome words in English Leaving a never ending smile on my lips After they spent an hour writing I made them pause To have home baked brownies I’d made from scratch Along with a soft drink A time to relax… Refreshed They continued on their essays And I decorated each note With stickers “Great Work” “Way to Go” “Excellent” “You are a Star” And for the women Lots of hearts! I love hearts They decorate my office Pillows Key rings Earrings And now My little notes Which came straight from my heart Each one got to exchange the finished essay For a handwritten note from the teacher I said with a sheepish grin “These stickers are not because you are a child…. But…because I am! I am a child at heart!" That brought smiles And a hug from The journalist from Brazil “I’m going to cry,” she said. As she gave me a bear hug My heart sang They had learned to love writing What greater joy could be mine? The Brazilian journalist Met me in church last Sabbath, Gave me another warm hug and said, “Teacher, thank you for the note You inspired me to do my best.” And what she couldn’t articulate well Sparkled in her eyes And danced in her hand motions Silly little stickers Simple little words A whole lot of love Love for my students EVERYONE needs some encouragement Everyone needs to know That inside the heart resides A wealth of beauty longing to be expressed A piece of the soul that longs to live forever In the written word I thank God I’m a teacher After all, I’m in good company For, the GREATEST Teacher of all time Jesus Christ Is my mentor! Eileen Manassian Ghali

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Richard D Seal

Date: 8/20/2013 6:03:00 PM

You do spoil your students my little Desert Orchid, I'm pleased this lot were good to you. If you're struggling with discipline at times you could always try what my teachers did and wave a cane about lol. Take care, Richard

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/21/2013 5:28:00 PM

Perhaps you would recommend that i turn into the BIG DESERT CACTUS???? ;) Yes, Richard....I am a softie! I bark, but I ain't got no bite! They pick upon that, the little rascals! This lot was a DREAM! Thanks for your kind comment.

Lucilla Carrillo

Date: 8/20/2013 5:09:00 PM

This is a great poem. You are so right. The greatest teacher of all time - was Jesus Christ. Thanks for sharing ..... Lucilla

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/21/2013 5:28:00 PM

:) Thanks, Lucilla for agreeing with me! I surely appreciate it! Hugs!

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 8/20/2013 4:27:00 PM

7 gold stars and a big hug. I love this one!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/21/2013 5:29:00 PM

Why thank you, Richard, for the gold stars...As for the hug..you know where to find me! ;)

Painted Hunter

Date: 8/20/2013 2:29:00 PM

Those little things that seem small can mean so much, can't they? You are a joy, Eileen! Can I enroll in your class? My English stinks...;)

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/21/2013 5:30:00 PM

PLEASE...PLEASE do, my dear Caleb. Not because your English stinks...which HA HA...good one, but because I know you could teach me so much!!! Hope you come back here soon! I miss ya!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 8/20/2013 7:33:00 AM

wow, I read your comments to me. You have a better teaching position than mine. I am not in a university and I get no benefits, only teaching 22 hours a week. your school sounds awesome, Eileen!!! I think they chose you wisely for English I and II.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/20/2013 7:37:00 AM

You are SO SO sweet, Andrea! Thank you for that compliment. It means a great deal to me coming from you! :) Your work load sounds VERY heavy! Most I've done is 20 a week, but right now they are going easy on me because I need to finish my thesis! It is a small university, my dear...but we are affiliated with La Sierra University in Cali! We do have accreditation and we get checked every so often! ...Our mission is to prepare students to have a full life here and be ready for the better life to come! :) Thanks for stopping by! HUGS!

Alozor Michael Ikechukwu

Date: 8/20/2013 1:30:00 AM

I csn feel the love from here. Thank you for sharing this.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/20/2013 1:41:00 AM

Awwwwww....how kind and sweet. Thank you!

Chris Boskovski

Date: 8/19/2013 10:52:00 PM

Great poem, filled with beautiful words filled with wisdom! I love it! and thank you for viewing my poem and for your comment! from your fellow poet.... Christopher :)

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/20/2013 1:42:00 AM

Christopher, thank you for taking the time to read and post...Your poem is amazing! I so enjoyed reading it...Great thoughts..You had a mix of everything there. Looking forward to reading more of your work!

Chris Boskovski

Date: 8/19/2013 10:51:00 PM

Great poem, filled with beautiful words filled with wisdom! I love it! and thank you for viewing my poem and for your comment! from your fellow poet.... Christopher :)

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/20/2013 1:42:00 AM

Ilene Bauer

Date: 8/19/2013 4:57:00 PM

you sound like such a wonderful teacher, i'm sure all your students feel lucky to be in your class. great poem!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/20/2013 1:44:00 AM

At times it's hard to deal with teenagers, Ilene. They are fresh out of high school and still a bit unsure of their identity...The boys want to act cool and indifferent. It is a challenge at times, and I assure you...not all days are good ones, but this lot were different. They have already gone through their educational system in their native countries and are here JUST to learn English, so they are committed, mature, and eager to learn. It was a dream to teach them! Thanks for the kind comments. You brought a smile!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 8/19/2013 3:35:00 PM

YOu sound like a marvelous teacher. Were these ESL students too? Tell me where and what exactly you teach. I teach to people from many countries that are in our small private ESL school. your students will remember you forever!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/20/2013 1:40:00 AM

Cont. I teach remedial English and university courses. We have an institute that caters to students who have not passed the TOFEL exam and need to brush up on their language skills before entering university. I teach grammar and writing among other things, but mostly I'm giving the writing courses because the powers that be think I am a good writer! ;) I've also taught Beginning Com, English I, and English II (Argumentative Writing) That was a tough one! Yes, I know that you are a language teacher and your writing is flawless! :) Thanks for posting!!!!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/20/2013 1:36:00 AM

Thanks, Andrea. I do try. I need to work more on classroom discipline...every semester I tell myself that I will be tough and towards the end I'm a softie again...Oh well...I teach at Middle East University run by the Seventh-day Adventist church in Beirut, Lebanon. Our church is strong on education and we have schools all over the world. In fact, after the Catholic church we have the highest number of denominationally run educational institutions. Also, we are strong into the health message and have some of the best medical facilities....Loma Linda Medical Center in California as an example! :)

Eileen Manassian

Date: 8/19/2013 1:46:00 PM

I just got to read this message from my Brazilian student in response to my email regarding her fantastic essay! "REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!! I'm so happy with your message, so, so, so happy! And if I wrote a good essay you can be sure that this is because you discovered this in me... And I'm so happy if my simple words encouraged you, and helped your daughter, this is my objective. Thank you for everything you are really so special for me my teacher! beijos bonita!"

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 8/19/2013 1:04:00 PM

- Sooo sweeet, Eileen...thank you!! - oxox // Anne-Lise :)

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/19/2013 1:56:00 PM

I need to thank you for reading, my dear! HUGS!

Poet Tacito

Date: 8/19/2013 9:39:00 AM

Ok, nevermind the Jesus talk & scriptures & test scores....YOU MADE BROWNIES!? I am shedding man tears. Now if you'd have brought ice cream w/those warm brownies, I'd be on a flight to your country and waiting outside your clasroom door with a spoon. Just sayin'. Oh, and great poem...I still want brownies though. =D

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/19/2013 2:02:00 PM

Yea....because writing is....wait for it .....wait for it....SWEET! ;) Whatever works, baby! I'd love to see your man tears, Drake! I wanted to, but the ice cream would have melted. It's so hot and humid here! AC in the room, but...yea, too messy! What am I say? If it would get you to visit...I'll get you all the ice cream you want!!! Local and foreign! Italian Ice cream from Gelato! Get your ......over here!!! :)