“I don’t even know why I am here anymore, I’m just a burden to everyone,” nine-year-old me sobbed. 

I had just gotten home from my 4th grade open house at Merton Primary School after finding out my teacher didn’t want me as her student. As a child with type one diabetes I needed some extra care and attention to keep me alive and healthy, but my teacher couldn’t accept that. To make matters worse she was also head of the teachers union, so no other teacher would take me as their student either. So here I was, two days before school started with no teacher. 

Mr. Aleshire was set to be my twin brother Dylan’s teacher. Usually Dylan and I weren’t put together in class so it had never been part of the conversation to have Mr. Aleshire as my teacher, but Mr. A brought it up anyway. Mr. Aleshire stood up for my nine-year-old self and took me in as his student.

Despite little medical training before this, Mr. Aleshire agreed to help me in school by taking classes at the local Children’s Hospital to ensure I was safe and healthy. Mr. Aleshire would ask questions to get to know me better as not only a diabetic, but as a student. 

When Mr. Aleshire was my teacher I had never enjoyed learning more! He kept the topics interesting and would even play a song at the end of the day to keep us kids entertained. I also have to give Mr. A a lot of credit because he had to deal with my twin and I fighting over the school year. 

Not only was Mr. Aleshire an incredible teacher, but he was also a friend. One day my family ordered pizza and Mr. A was the one delivering it. Even though he had work to finish he took time to chat with my family and ask how we were doing. I hadn’t seen him in a few years, so we had a lot to catch up on, but it didn’t bother him. 

A couple years later I was done seating my family at the res taurant I worked at and spotted Mr. Aleshire. Even though Mr. Aleshire was with a friend, he didn’t mind striking up a conversation with me and my family. That section of the restaurant filled with laughter and thoughtful conversations about our futures and aspirations. 

Not only did Mr. Aleshire heroically take me in as his student, but he is an amazing person. He is extremely thoughtful, kind, and generous. Although having a teacher reject me brought pain, I am glad I experienced it, for I would not have gotten to know the wonderful Mr. Aleshire without it.