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Kim with Mrs. Miller’s fourth grade class |
Last week, I had a wonderful opportunity to learn.
I was invited to East Montgomery Elementary School in Clarksville to read to Mrs. Miller’s 4th grade class. We had a terrific time together and they had lots and lots of questions. A few days later, I received some very thoughtful and sweet thank you letters from the class.
In the days since, I’ve thought about that class and about my children when they were that age. I remember the thank you notes, the cupcakes, the practices and rehearsals, the tears, the nerves and the giggles. I remember reading with my children and my parents reading to me. And I remember it all with gratitude.
With every challenge I’ve met and every accomplishment I’ve achieved, I’ve never forgotten the teachers, librarians, coaches, volunteers and role models that helped propel me. I was educated in Tennessee and I know that, just like today, our schools were filled with dedicated teachers who had vision and a tremendous desire to teach. And I am grateful for that.
I know that education changes lives. If we want to improve our economy for the very long term, enable our children to have better lives than we do, continue toward progress and equality for everyone, we must never stop teaching. And we must never stop learning.
During Thanksgiving, I’ll be spending time with my family. My children are almost grown now and will soon be starting new chapters in their adult lives. I won’t be reading to them but we’ll likely talk about their future and, again, I will be grateful to everyone who helped shape their lives.
On this holiday, when we take time to share and count our blessings, I’ll think of Mrs. Miller and her fourth grade class. After all, our future rests on their small shoulders.
Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.
About Kim McMillan
Kim and her husband Larry, a native Clarksvillian, have been married for over 20 years. They have two children who attend the public schools in Clarksville, Katie 17, a high school fast-pitch softball player and Ryan 16, a high school golfer.
