Proud moment

My English team kids presented their Easter plays yesterday and I'd say they pulled it off pretty spectacularly. There were a few minor goofs here and there -- a briefly forgotten line, a character who almost didn't show up, a lion's head and bunny tails that kept falling off -- but the audiences paid attention, followed the stories, and laughed at the appropriate moments. Most of all, I think the kids in the plays had fun doing them and were proud to be performing for their classmates. Doing a play in a second language is no small feat, especially when you can count the number of rehearsals you've had on one hand. Even scarier is doing it in front of 400 of your friends, who may or may not understand what you're saying and are notorious for talking during speakers, shows, etc when convened in the assembly hall.

As great a job as the actors, singers, stage crew, and lighting crew did, however, my proudest moment yesterday was because of a student who wasn't even present at the performance. "Proudest" is not exactly the right word because I had no hand in it whatsoever, but I can think of no other word to describe the warm feeling and grin that spread over my face when the school reception desk handed me an envelope about an hour and a half before the show.

"To: Miss C
From: [Student] 6D"

I had entrusted each student with the safekeeping of his or her own props for the show with the repeated promise to bring them intact on the day. This student was a member of the 3-person sound/lighting crew and unbeknownst to me, the keeper of the CD and sound effect props. Of course, on the day of the show, he fell ill and stayed at home. Lucky for me, who didn't even check the attendance rosters to see if everyone was at school, he was responsible enough to send someone to drop off the stuff. Awww, so smart. So thoughtful. So responsible. (If you're not sure why this is amazing, you haven't spent enough time with kids.)