Root for the home team

When I went to football games last year, I found a couple of younger teachers and sat there for the game.

Not tonight.

I mean, I started off that way. But then a couple who I met on my walk home from the post office last week walked by and invited me to sit with them. "Hey, I remember you! What are you making?" (A throw.) "That's real pretty. We're going to sit up there. Why don't you come with us?"

So I did. And chatted with them. He, especially, commented about how so many people don't stay here long because they feel isolated. "Here's our cell phone number. Call us."

They left. I was sitting next to a different group of teachers. Then waved to the admin office secretary and the custodian who cleans my room. So I joined them for a bit. Another teacher came by. (Yes, it is a school.) And then one of my students came up.

I think she wants attention. Realize this is stating the obvious, not a major realization. A ninth-grader coming up to two of her teachers during the football game. And talking to one of them for the entire second half. (Complete with moving to a new seat location after she went to buy a snack.) I feel like I could relate to her almost too much. This is another new school for her. She's smart, in addition to being ahead of her classes. She's independent. She likes to redecorate her pants and be crafty. I'm worried for her. Partly because high school was often miserable for me. Partly because I worry for all the students here. Partly because she just seems so desperate for attention so early in the year. I'm not sure how much I can give her, but I hope things like tonight help make some sort of difference. I hope the little bits add up.

We lost the game, but I still feel like it was a worthwhile night out.