Blog: In the Beginning…Inspiration
I have often been asked when did I begin painting and drawing. I would say in my early preschool years, when my mother would hand me some crayons and paper and say, “Let these keep you busy.” Well, that trend of keeping me busy continued into my kindergarten class, elementary, middle school and high school years.
But let me digress for just a moment… I want to return to a very blissful time in my school career, back to my kindergarten years, I had a really incredible teacher, Mrs. January. She immediately picked up on the fact that I had a busy body and an overactive imagination to go with it. For instance, during naptime ALL the students were suppose to be asleep, but my mind just would not be still. I would lay on my blue nap mat, looking up at the ceiling, counting the little holes and dots in the tiles. When I grew tire of that, I would turn quietly from side to side, pretending to be asleep only to discover that my teacher, Mrs. January was looking at me smiling. I suppose as long as I was not making any noises my behavior was alright. I would open and close my eyes repeatedly, trying to sleep, but sleep did not come easy to me. This went on for a few days. Finally, Mrs. January, rose from her desk and ask me, “Aren’t you sleepy?” I just shook my head no. She motioned the typical be quiet movement with index finger in front of her mouth. She motioned for me to quietly come. I rose from my mat and walked to her desk. She pointed to the big wooden teacher grading desk. The one that is normally covered with papers to be graded. She instructed me to quietly take a seat. I sat at this oversized wooden desk not making a sound. She walked over to the desk and placed in front of me 5 sheets of manilla white paper along with crayons and markers. She told me, “As long as you are quiet you can draw and color. But…do not wake the other children.” I remember clasping my hands together and smiling from ear to ear. Beaming with excitement and pleased to know that she knew what I wanted and needed.
She taught me several valuable life lessons from her kindness and attentiveness. She knew all children have different needs. She didn’t force everyone to fit into the same small square box because she knew some of us were triangles, circles, stars, and ovals. Our differences were and are what makes us unique and special. I gleaned from her presence in my life something that I carry with me and utilized in my career as an educator. She taught me without actually telling me: to pay attention to circumstances. In other words: I learned to see and look at what is happening. I learned to examine and question the actions and behaviors of myself and those around me. I learned to feel, to empathize and to understand. I also learned how to be kind and loving, especially if you wish for someone to do something that they are really not in the mood to do. Her gentleness and compassion for me and the other students showed me how acts of kindness really do and can make a difference. My love for creating and art really had a boost that day… All because I had a wonderful teacher. She could see what was needed in that situation. I really do not think it was an accident that I had her as my first real school teacher. Your presence in my life has left a lasting impression on my heart and the art that I create. Thank you, Mrs. January.
