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Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
–Mary Oliver
Can we really make a difference? Can one person plant a seed?
Will it grow? How will we know?
I got a phone call today from a former student. She felt brave enough to enter a writing contest, the Scholastic Mockingjay Change the World Contest. She called to tell me she placed in the top ten and will receive prizes. I was thrilled! Her essay speaks of world hunger as the biggest problem we face today. Her experience volunteering at Solomon House with me and some of her classmates influenced her greatly.
An excerpt from her essay:
Though super powers are the quickest way to saving the hungry, there are still things you and I can do to help. During the Hunger Games, gracious sponsors donate food to dying tributes. This often saves them. Think of Katniss! She wouldn’t be alive if not for the kind-hearted people that gave her a chance. We should be the sponsors of this world…the ones that say, “I made a difference.” We can be those people. Today.
–Kaylie B. Read the entire essay here.
I do what I do in order to make a difference, to mean something to someone. But the tree does not bear fruit quickly, usually after years of growth. Even so, I should do the best I can with each precious life I hold. This is my responsibility. This is my vocation. Congratulations to Kaylie! I am so proud to be a part of her life as a writer and as a person who makes a difference.
Reflections on the Teche 
Congratulations to Kaylie! How wonderful that she called you to share her good news and that she said she was influenced by something she did when she was your student. Lovely video. YOU definitely make a difference!!
Wonderful, Margaret. Kaylie knew you would care. I am so sorry I cannot attend NCTE this year to meet you and to see you receive your award. I am thrilled for you. I met Don Graves many times over the years as I attended every session or workshop I could get to. He was such a wonderful, smart, kind man. His work has made a huge difference, just like yours does and will continue to do. Congratulations to you, to Kaylie and to your lucky students who have won “the teacher prize’ this year. All kids deserve to win that award! And teachers like you, Nancie Atwell, Penny Kittle, Linda Rief, Kelly Gallagher, Donalyn Miller, Mary Lee Hahn, Franki Sibberson, Katherine Sokolowski, Ann Marie Corgill, Paul Hankins, Ed Spicer, Colby Sharp, Vicki Vinton, Dorothy Barnhouse and so many others I don’t have space to name,(but they will be at NCTE in droves ) and those back at work striving to make a difference, are the ones who should be asked to help figure out what curricular options/schedules/methods/procedures should be offered as models to help children have wonderful and effective classroom experiences. Take joy in this day, this moment, this gift, this award, Margaret. So happy for you.
I can’t imagine being in such amazing company. Thanks for your support and confidence. We will meet some day.
What a moving post Margaret! What a beautifully written essay by Kaylie! Congratulations to her. It will be students like her who will change the world! Thanks for sharing it and the video.