Butterflies are free

Today i would tell you about a student of mine.

I have a very packed schedule to adhere to, but i have noticed that sometimes getting stuff off my head helps me process other things faster. Besides, it will be one half hour well spent.

Like yesterday. She came to see me, as she always does, springing into my office, almost prancing, rushed toward me and exclaimed the way only she can,"Give me some love, it's my birthday today!" Those of you who know me also know that i don't do hugs, no sir-ee bob! Hey, what can i say, i don't even hug my own sis who i am very close with! But this girl is something else, she will make you do stuff you would not normally do. Like Jill Baker in Butterflies are free.

She turned 32 yesterday. My Jill. She has been struggling with the upper level math classes, but that's just not it. She has been struggling with keeping her head above the water that's life. With financial aid and sporadic work she is fighting it out.

She is also raising her eight year old daughter. On her own. I have seen this child. Once or twice she sat in my class with her mom and painted away. An active, engaged and happy child. I have bought girl scout cookies from her, as did many members of the department.

So yesterday after i advised Jill for about 15 minutes about how she could optimally map out her next year, she enlightened me about goldfishes for the next 15 minutes. It so seems that she has found the golden rule of teaching a child about life, science and the responsibilities of caring for beings other than one's own self.

Every time her daughter rises up to a challenge she gets a goldfish, and the custom was established early on for the very essential p-training. So by now Jill has about 16 different goldfishes and from what i could tell she can write a short paper on how to raise cold water goldfishes! I learned many a things, among which are the little known facts that the fish can live as long as 25 years, they do need medical care (on top of all the other cares), and that they cannot procreate unless the environment is conducive.

I also was reminded why i liked my Jill so much. She has not given up. Neither on her child, nor on herself. The more the life tries to pull her down, up she rises ever so buoyant and joyous.

Now, that Jill, she has my respect.