“I trust you, Miss. I could talk to you.”

I can’t stop thinking about him.  He has a reputation as a gang-banger, yet I see something different in his eyes. I see a young man caught in a difficult situation. At school, I couldn’t stop thinking about the boy with so much potential in spite of his reputation. I had to do something. I wrote him a card expressing my belief in him. Shortly after giving it to him, he came to me upset because he had lost it without reading it. After a search, it was found and returned to him.

Due to a poor choice on his part, he found himself in In School Suspension today. I went to check on him during my prep period. After I helped him with a Social Studies assignment, he told me he was working on a writing assignment that I would not want to read. The piece came about after an activity in LA class that I had taught with Mr. Wilson. A drawing his neighborhood meant to get him thinking about possible stories. I assured him that I wanted to read it.  After reading it, I wanted to pull him into my arms for a great big hug for it was a story of guns, violence, and hardship.

Often he speaks through art. He has an eye for it. So much so that he was asked by a teacher who believes in him to design a cover for the yearbook. Included within the cover were messages of inspiration and hope. A glimpse into the young man we don’t get to see very often.

While walking with him in the hall, I asked if he had an adult he could talk to if he needed some guidance. His answer was no. I mentioned he should start thinking about someone he felt comfortable with. Someone he could go to if he needed some support or guidance.

“I trust you, Miss. I could talk to you.”