The summer before middle school was difficult.  My beloved grandmother passed away after a tumultuous battle with cancer.  I was nervous about the work and stress I expected would come with starting middle school.  Combined with the pain left by my grandma’s death, the thought of starting sixth grade seemed unbearable.  I figured I would be lost at sea, just about ready to drown in the wallows of nerves.

Fortunately, I had teachers who helped me adjust.  My English teacher seemed to understand what I was going through.  While she introduced herself to the class, Ms. Bolinski showed us pictures of her own grandmother.  She explained how close they were, and I could tell by her wistful expression that we shared similar bonds with our grandmothers.  Ms. Bolinski confided in the class that her grandma recently passed away. I was so surprised to see my teacher and I had something like that in common. It was comforting to see that an adult, and my  teacher, dealt with the same emotions I was just learning to process. Without knowing it, Ms. Bo helped me feel a little less alone.

Ms. Bolinski was the advisor for the middle school’s literary magazine, The Scribbler.  Once a week, a small group met in her classroom to work on anything creative.  Ms. Bo gave us the freedom to create what we wanted. She was there to supervise and give advice on any projects, but she was mainly there to foster an environment of inspiration.  I made lasting memories giggling with my friends while tweaking details of my submissions. I have always loved writing, and the literary magazine gave me an outlet. 

 Eventually, I started to see writing allowed me to express the emotions I tried so hard to push down.  I was encouraged by Ms. Bolinski’s enthusiasm for poetry and her candor about her own grandmother’s death.  I began writing a poem about my grandma. To this day, that poem is one of my favorite things I have ever written, because I allowed myself to be honest about a difficult experience.  Ms. Bo gave me the courage and confidence to grow as a writer and an individual, and for that I cannot be more grateful.

Ms. Bolinski no longer teaches at my former middle school, but I know that she is still empowering and uplifting others.  Her new pupils, including the students in her yoga class, are lucky to know such a talented and thoughtful teacher.  

I have run into Ms. Bo a few times over the years.  Each time we reconnect is a welcome surprise and a reminder of the impacts she has made on my life.  I am so thankful that Ms. Bolinski gave me support when I needed it the most.