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| One piece of me up on that wall—and a few more pieces of me with every connection I make. đź’› |
A Little Bit Of Color, A Lot of Heart
The Rhythm of Change – Part 3
This post is part of my ongoing series, "The Rhythm of Change"—a personal reflection on navigating life, growth, and the classroom after starting over.
Recently, my principal gave me a task; to update an old English wall that had been sitting there for who-knows-how-long, outdated and overlooked. And just like that, something lit up inside me. Being a crafty person, I couldn’t wait to get started.
Almost instantly, I was deep in Pinterest, blogs, and teacher boards; scrolling through colorful, creative ideas for a junior high English board. The excitement was real. Every day I found myself planning, sketching, and imagining what the students might enjoy. What might make them stop and smile. What might stick. It wasn’t just a project—it was a process. A series of joyful little discoveries. And I loved every second of it.
After about a week of gathering ideas and preparing materials, it was finally time. I put everything together, piece by piece, layering color and thought with every cut and corner. When I hung the last piece and stepped back to take it all in, I felt myself smile. Really smile. I was happy. And proud. And quietly hoping that the kids would love it, too.
In the days that followed, something else started to shift. As I walked through the school buildings, students began calling my name from the windows, smiling, waving, and calling out with that casual joy only kids have. It caught me off guard at first, and then, all at once, I realized what was happening. They were starting to connect with me. And I am with them.
You know how they say kids can tell when you truly care? I believe that. Deeply. And I think they’re beginning to feel that I care, not just about teaching, but about them. To someone else, these little moments might not seem like much. But to me, they’re everything.
When my principal saw the finished wall, his face lit up. He was so happy, and that made me happy. Then a few teachers came up to me and told me how much they liked it, how nice it looked. And honestly? That felt good too. It’s a special kind of joy to be appreciated for something you poured your heart into.
This week, a piece of me went up on that wall. But more importantly, a little more of me settled into this place. Into this role. Into this life that’s still new, but slowly, surely, becoming mine.
We’ve got this.
