The other day, my mom was going through a box of papers. She found a note from my high school English teacher, Mrs. Orloff.
The note reads as follows:
“Dear Jennie
Thank you for the gift & the party. I will think of you often. You have challenged me to be a better teacher. I hope to go in a book store someday and see a stack of books by the famous author Jennie Lawson. Be good-be happy.
Mrs. Orloff”
I was close to my high school teachers. I attended a school for teen parents. Back then, it was called Teen Parent East. Now, it is called The Chiles Academy.
We had to fight for our education and the right to have a school that catered to our needs. Because of that, I got involved in politics at an early age. I will always thank my teachers for showing me how to advocate for myself and others.
The school had nutrition classes, parenting classes–in addition to regular classes in English, Math, etc. There was a daycare on site. I was able to breastfeed for two years because of that.
The school is now named The Chiles Academy after the late former governor Lawton Chiles, who visited our school and was supportive.
It is very important to have good teachers in your life. I am thankful that the vast majority of my formal educational experiences have been very positive.
