It was Sam’s first day in third grade and his first year in a new school. His family had just moved to California for his dad’s work. Sam missed his friends but he was excited to makes new ones as well! Sam looked for his teachers classroom, which his family had saw for a before-school open house where the parents could meet the teachers. Sam found his class and look for a seat to sit in. He sat in a table with three other boys who were all talking to each other. Sam set down his bag and lunchbox then sat down.
After another five minutes Sam’s new teach started to speak.
“Hello children! I am your new teacher, Mrs. Evans and I am so excited to be your teacher! Since this is our first day, we will start the class by doing some ice breakers to get to know each other! Say your name and something you like. So who wants to go first?” No one raised their hand and everyone sat in awkward silence.
“I guess I’ll just pick someone random then.. how about you!” She pointed to Sam and everyone stared to look at him. “Oh uhm…” Sam started nervously.
He started to fidget his hands as he continued to speak. “My name is Sam and I like…” Sam thought about what he liked the most. He liked a lot of things but honestly his favorite thing ever was stitching.
When Sam was younger, his mom taught him how to sew since he saw his mom trying to sew a dress. Sam was very interested in it so his mom taught him. “I like to sew!” Sam finally said. It was quiet for a few seconds until the whole class started to laugh.
Sam was very upset and hurt, why would people laugh at him? “That’s so girly and cringe!” Someone shouts. “Class! DidnStop laughing!” Finally the teacher scolds. “I think sewing is a very nice hobby. And if you guys want to get in trouble on the first day I’ll gladly email your parents!”
That seemed to shut everyone up. “Now, let’s go to the next person.” One by one the whole class went and said their names then what they liked. Most of the boys said something like “video games” or “drawing” things like that. Though Sam was still listening he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed and weird. “What was so weird about sewing? It was normal and many people did it, right?” Sam wondered.
The rest of the day was pretty normal just stuff like rules, expectations, the class syllabus, things like that. Finally the day ended and everyone was packing up. While everyone was still packing the teacher called Sam to see her outside.
“Oooooooh Sam’s in troubleee!” Sam trembled as he walked towards the door with his backpack and his lunchbox. The teacher closed the door and crouched down to Sam’s height. “Hey are you okay kiddo? You look upset.” Sam finally broke down and started to cry.
“My classmates thought I was weird because I liked to sew…” Sam sniffled.
“Look, don’t listen to your classmates, you are so talented and amazing for knowing how to sew! Be yourself, that’s all that matter, don’t listen to the haters” Mrs. Evans said.
“You really think so?..” Sam asked.
“I know so” she replied.
“Thanks Mrs. Evans!” Sam said as he wiped his tears.
Moral: be yourself and do what makes you happy
Obhumithraa
Sugarland Tamil School
Bharathi Kalai Mandram
Houston Texas USA