Everything Happens for a Reason! It was the first day of school, 4th period and every student had entered my classroom, each choosing a number that would decide their assigned seat, until I at least learned all their names. There he sat first row third seat back, I called his name, “Julian?”, and he responded “It’s Julian” (with the letter “J” pronounced like an “H” like it is in Spanish). So I took a note and made sure the next day that I said “Julian” (like it would be pronounced in Spanish). Sure enough with that big smile of his, he corrects me and says, "It’s “Julian” with the English letter “J”. A few students snickering in the background, at that moment I knew that this was the student who was going to keep me on my toes this year. In the short period of time that I had Julian in my class, everyday he would do or say something in class that would draw the attention to him! Everyday I would look forward to 4th period, couldn’t wait to see what comment or thought Julian was going to express in class the next day! I can’t explain it, and maybe I will never be able to! All I know, Julian was one of those students who had a spark from day one. This was one who I would think to myself, this kid is going to do something fabulous in life and I hope I will be there to see it one day. As a teacher, at the end of the day there is always that one student who you talk about to anyone who will listen. Julian was that student for me! Earlier that tragic week, I had discovered that he was quite the artist. After class that Tuesday, I asked him, “Are you able to draw a bronco?” He replied, “Yah, I just drew one the other day!” I then asked him, “Would you mind designing the Spanish Club t-shirt with a bronco wearing a Sombrero?” He responded with complete confidence, “Oh yah give me a couple days, and I will have it done!” Then that tragic day had come, they had a vocabulary quiz in class. As I was passing out their quizzes, I said, “Anyone who got a 100% on yesterday’s pre quiz doesn’t have to take today’s quiz.” As I handed Julian a quiz, “He says with such confidence and a smirk on his face, “Miss Hill, I don’t have to take this quiz, I got a 100% on yesterday’s!” I looked at him and laughed and said, “Ahh Julian, you got 19 out of 20, I paid especially close attention to your grade, because I knew you were going to try to say that! Sorry you still have to take the quiz!” He smiled a cheesy smile and took the quiz. Of course he scored a perfect. Then he teased a fellow classmate for receiving a 19 out 20 and told him if he couldn’t get perfects on his Spanish quizzes like him then he wasn’t going to study with him! Like I said, he was one who was going to keep me on my toes! Apparently he was keeping his fellow classmates on their toes as well. The last conversation that he and I shared, we never got to finish. I wasn’t sure if you was just trying to get me off the subject or if was serious. We were in the middle of moving on to an activity in class and he felt that he needed to tell me that he had an auntie who was a Spanish teacher and her name was Miss Hill also! The other students chuckled and I said, “Oh really, well after we are done with this activity, at the end of class you I will have to talk about that!” He smiled real big and nodded. Then of course we began the activity, and like everyday he and another student play back and forth! I warned them in Spanish of course that they are about to lose points, and then they stopped. After that they were working on worksheets, and I see him helping a classmate who needed a help without making a big deal about it. Suddenly, the bell rang, and the students rushed out and without hesitation like the rest of the students Julian too, rushed out the door. I thought, well Julian and I will finish that conversation on Monday….. I am not sure how something so awful could happen to anyone such as this, especially to someone who shined as bright Julian! I am a firm believer everything happens for a reason! That was the one thing that got me through a prior loss of someone who was so dear to me! It doesn’t seem fair at the time, but I look at the short time that we, at Jefferson High School had with Julian! He had made such an impact on the students around him, and the teachers who had the pleasure of having him in class. There was reason why Julian came into all of our lives and then left us so quickly! I am not sure why, only time will tell, or maybe we will never know. I do know this though; my students are the reason why I love what I do, and why I get up in the mornings. Students like Julian are like the icing the cake. Julian, ¡Queremos mucho! ¡Te Extranaremos por siempre! Tu profesora, Señorita Hill Y tu clase de Español I