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| Michael on the left posing for some iPhone shots |
As Michael sits in the back of the class, he towers over all
of the other learners. At about 6
feet tall, Michael doesn’t just surpass most of the students in height though;
he also surpasses them in age. At
21 years old, Michael is one of my oldest 9th grade students.
From the start of term 2, I knew that Michael was going to
excel in my class, but I did not know how deeply he would affect my life. I do not like to admit that I have
favorite students, but if I am honest, I do, and Michael is one of them. Since arriving at Odibo CS, Michael has
gone above and beyond to assist me in class, better his education, and inquire
about the world. On a daily basis,
Michael greets me and asks how the morning is. If I ever need a helping hand, I know that I can trust him
to get the job done. On top of
that, he respects me as a teacher even though I am only 2 years older than him.
At the start of the year, I was curious as to why Michael
was so much older than the other students. I know that several students are close in age, and many have
failed different grades throughout their schooling. However, I knew that this could not be possible for
Michael. Something about his work
ethic and mannerisms allowed me to know that he indeed had not failed
school. As time has passed, I have
gotten closer with Michael and have been exposed to more and more of his
story. Through a scholarship that
my parents have put together, I was able to get a more detailed story on
Michael’s education. Below is a
revised essay that he submitted and has given me permission to share. I have added in some information in
order to clarify some details:
…………………………
I was born in 1992, but I started school late. 2004 is when I started school; I was
twelve years old. It was very
shameful for me to start school so late because I was too old to be in grade
one. This was not my own fault,
but happened because my parents failed to take me to school earlier due to
their own lack of education. They
are both illiterate.
One day though, my uncle asked my parents if it was possible
for him to take me to his house in order to go to school there. My father agreed, so I moved. For almost seven years, I was schooling
there, but in 2011, the situation between my uncle’s wife and me was not always
good. I moved to Odibo to stay at
my father’s house. I have never
failed a grade in my life, but unfortunately I missed one grade in 2011 because
I was enrolled in a private school that was too expensive for my family and me. I was chased out in February 2011
because my father could not afford to pay the fee.
Since 2011, I have not been helped by either of my
parents. When I restarted my
schooling in 2012, last year, I had to pay for my own school fees, school
uniform, and school materials by myself.
Since I am older, my parents believe that I am old enough to fight for
my own life and needs.
…………………………
Michael went on to explain that he comes from a family of
nine kids, many of which have different mothers, and since he is the first-born,
he has to take care of himself.
Knowing Michael’s personality and story, I felt moved to share it with all
of y’all. At 21, Michael has not
given up on his education, but instead continues to push himself more and more
each day. Instead of having a bad
attitude about being too old for class, he acts as a leader for the younger
students, constantly showing them what it means to respect others and to persevere. Hear it from me, his English teacher;
Michael will become someone in his life!
He will better his circumstances, support his family, and do great
things. There is no doubt in my
mind that Michael will excel. With
a brain as inquisitive as his, a heart as large, and a dedication as strong, he
will do amazing things.
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