An Inspiring Quote

The classroom teemed with excitement as everyone took their seats, eager to play a game the teacher had told us about. It was my first week of school as a fourth grader, and I had just moved to a new state. This school was unique to me, however, because, unlike my previous schools, this one was not military-affiliated. Most of the kids there had grown up around each other and knew each other pretty well. But that didn’t intimidate me; I was ready to explore my new home and make new friends.

My classmates and I sat attentively and listened to the teacher’s instructions: we would each go to the front of the class, answer some sort of question, and then call on another student to go up next. I was nervous but excited to learn something new about each of my peers. These people would become my friends over the school year, and I was ready to get to know them.

A girl sitting a few seats behind me went up first, and after answering her question, called on another kid. The game proceeded through a few rounds until somebody chose me. I got up out of my seat and walked to the front of the class. The teacher asked me my question, and I answered with no problem. The tricky part for me, though, was calling on another student.

You see, we had done brief introductions on the previous day, but I hadn’t really remembered anyone’s name; the few people I had become acquainted with had already been called on. I sat there for a minute, discerning what to do next. My mental search for a name had turned up unsuccessful, so I reluctantly gestured to the boy in front of me. 

“What!” he exclaimed, “you don’t know my name?” 

At this point, I was feeling pretty mortified. This was my chance to make a good first impression at my school, and all I showed my classmates was that I couldn’t even remember their names. I felt my face turning red and shuffled my feet to go sit down when my teacher said something that would stick with me forever.

“It’s easy for you all to learn one person’s name, but it’s hard for her to learn all of yours.”

While this may seem like an insignificant quote, it meant a lot to me at the time and continued to prove true throughout my childhood as a military kid. When my teacher said that, I felt understood. I could see the change in my classmates' faces as they understood what she meant. She said exactly what I had not known how to put into words. 

This is an important message to remember, especially as a military kid. In my future duty stations, when I felt like I hadn’t found my crowd yet and was still trying to get used to things, I would remember this quote and try not to be so harsh on myself. 

If you are a military kid experiencing a new place or situation, remember to be patient with yourself. It is okay if it takes you time to learn the ropes of your new duty station, but with time, you will figure things out! An amazing part of being a military kid is our resilience, and moments of unsureness, like these, make you even stronger!