The 'wack Off
Monday, June 05, 2006
Just a gesture
Today was on it's way to being one of the worst days in recent memory. The stresses of my job search (which is now stretching out of state and across oceans even...), the fact that I got a 90 dollar ticket for not wearing a seatbelt (I was only travelling three blocks and the worst part is that I'm a complete seatbelt WHORE), and writing and drawing has taken a back seat to college work (piles of it) and the application process. Long story short, up until about 7:20 tonight, I was frustrated and ready to quit (at least for the night).
And then, stemming from a conversation we had in class last week, my teacher, Lou, brought in his own copy of the graphic novel "Pedro and Me". The book, by Judd Winnick, tells the story of Pedro Zamora and his battle with AIDS. I read it years ago (in a bookstore...too broke to buy it) and as it turns out, Judd was a student of my teacher back when my teacher taught high school Social Studies. What's more than that though is that Lou Marrett has a couple of pages dedicated to him in the book which detail a lesson he began when he wrote the words "I Am Gay" on the blackboard. Lou's like that. He never holds back and he dives at the heart of all issues. Lou is not gay. Lou just wrote that to incite a discussion on the opinions and feelings of the classroom towards homosexuality and I'm sure it made an impact on the classroom that day.l. Hell, Judd felt the need to include it in his book.
So that's what Lou does...makes an impact. Tonight, after my awful day, Lou showed us the part of the book where he was featured, spoke a bit about Judd and then walked over to my desk and handed me the book. He told me that since I was such a great artist (based on the hundreds of doodles I've done in his class the past couple of weeks...my notebook has ten words of notes and ten thousand ninja guys) that he wanted me to have his copy of the book. I did the "that's not necessary" hand thing, but he wouldn't have it. He smiled at me, shook my hand and I just said "thank you".
And THAT, my friends, is how you change somebody's bad day. With just a simple act of kindness....just a gesture. ¶ 8:02 PM 7 comments
And then, stemming from a conversation we had in class last week, my teacher, Lou, brought in his own copy of the graphic novel "Pedro and Me". The book, by Judd Winnick, tells the story of Pedro Zamora and his battle with AIDS. I read it years ago (in a bookstore...too broke to buy it) and as it turns out, Judd was a student of my teacher back when my teacher taught high school Social Studies. What's more than that though is that Lou Marrett has a couple of pages dedicated to him in the book which detail a lesson he began when he wrote the words "I Am Gay" on the blackboard. Lou's like that. He never holds back and he dives at the heart of all issues. Lou is not gay. Lou just wrote that to incite a discussion on the opinions and feelings of the classroom towards homosexuality and I'm sure it made an impact on the classroom that day.l. Hell, Judd felt the need to include it in his book.
So that's what Lou does...makes an impact. Tonight, after my awful day, Lou showed us the part of the book where he was featured, spoke a bit about Judd and then walked over to my desk and handed me the book. He told me that since I was such a great artist (based on the hundreds of doodles I've done in his class the past couple of weeks...my notebook has ten words of notes and ten thousand ninja guys) that he wanted me to have his copy of the book. I did the "that's not necessary" hand thing, but he wouldn't have it. He smiled at me, shook my hand and I just said "thank you".
And THAT, my friends, is how you change somebody's bad day. With just a simple act of kindness....just a gesture. ¶ 8:02 PM 7 comments
