Just some old books

During my junior year of high school, I received a unique invitation. Harvard and MIT had collaborated to offer a calculus class, spanning several weeks. They invited select high school students from the Boston/Cambridge area, including ME!! This class would be a level up from the traditional calculus I was already taking in my public high school. Of course I accepted.

The week before the first class, II walked into my bedroom and was shocked to see six calculus books sitting on my bed. They were all old. Most were beat up and torn. I immediately knew my mom had gotten these books. She was a passionate yard sale shopper, spending many weekends driving everywhere around town to visit as many yard sales as she could. I was stunned by what she had done. To this day, I wonder how many hours she spent driving around the city to find these books.

The books were invaluable to me during the class. Each taught calculus from a slightly different angle. If I did not understand a concept, I checked another book, and another, until it was clear for me. I remember standing in my room that day and promising myself that I would do well in the class and not fail my mom. I kept the promise.

I will begin teaching my first long term class next week. It’s a class of nine 5th graders, and I’ll be teaching them every day until the end of this school year – more than 3 months. English, math, history, science, reading – their education will be in my hands. We will have all we need – new books, impressive curriculum, multi-media capability – even a new classroom. But I will think often of six old books. I will remember a mom who loved her son. Time will slow down, and then start again. Then I will begin to teach. Nine beautiful children will look at me, and it will be my turn to give.