73. Stay in touch as a mentor to past students

As any good teacher knows, when the school bell rings to dismiss the children for the day your job is far from over.  

After the official day ends and my class empties, it quickly re-fills with other students.  Sometimes I help them with their homework, let them use a computer to type, give them a safe place to avoid being "jumped" on the way home, but a lot of times I play therapist/counselor and help them sort through their problems.

One of my favorite visitors came into my room every single day before school last year and has kept the tradition going by staying with me after school this year.  Needless to say, I have become a strong mentor to her and we know each other very well.  I won't put out her business here but let's just say she's had a tough life and I'm impressed every day at how well-adjusted, kind, and responsible she is.

I recently found out that she was a big fan of the show "Cake Boss".  This show happens to be filmed just blocks from my apartment so I shared with her how I've met buddy, tasted his cannoli's, and seen the camera crews as they load huge cakes into the back of his truck.  Her eyes were so wide I thought they might pop out of her head!

Therefore, we devised a plan.  For her birthday (13- an official teenager!) I would take her to Carlo's Bakery.  We cleared it with her mom and set a date.  The day it arrived she came running down the hall to my room after school.  I'm not sure the bell had even rang yet!

We had a great time.  I don't think she ever stopped smiling and her face was bright red the entire time.  Unfortunately we didn't see Buddy but we got lots of pictures and ate yummy cupcakes.

Since then, she's proclaimed that she is going to be a chef and possibly open her own bakery.  I gave her some play-dough to help practice kneading and modeling foods.  She has practiced every day since :)