When I was in grade eleven, I had a specific math teacher who was not only an amazing teacher, but he actually did something for me that may have seemed small to him, but ended up being one of my favorite moments of high school. He stood up for me when I did not have the energy to do so myself.
At the high school that I attended, we worked based on the quarter system. This meant that for ten weeks, we had two courses, each for three hours a day.
I used to love this particular math class.
It is not like the teacher and I particularly bonded, but he understood - or seemed to understand - what I was struggling with.
This was one of my worst years. I would be stuck in the bathroom for 30-40 minutes at a time, I was absolutely exhausted/fatigued 100% of the time, and medications were failing. It was the summer after grade eleven that I ended up having the emergency total colectomy. What I loved about math class is that I could get through my work quickly, finish the assigned homework, and then I would simply put my head down and sleep for the remainder of the class - unless I was in the washroom.
I was still trying to play sports and be involved in music and plays and everything that I could be involved in.
I remember one specific day, there was a student who complained about the fact that I was 'allowed' to sleep during class. Obviously, it seems unfair. I mean, I was gone to the washroom for half of the time (which no one my age really understood at that point in time since Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease were virtually unknown and COMPLETELY misunderstood), and the majority of the rest of the time, I slept at my desk. He did not say much. He was simply blunt and honest. He said that I had finished my work and my homework and that I had good grades. He said that if that particular student was finished his work, homework, and desired to sleep, that he could also do so.
I am positive that this teacher likely doesn't even remember this 20 second moment. It was so simple, so quick, but for me it was so amazing.
To be honest, everything in high school was embarrassing. No one understood why I had to miss so much class. I remember students complaining about how 'gross' it was for people to go 'number 2' at school, not understanding why someone could not wait until they were in the comfort of their own home. The fatigue and the pain and the effort that it took just to BE at school, even the fact that I couldn't eat like the rest of them but that I didn't have actual allergies - none of this was common.
Even in University, no one really understood how much extra work it takes to do well at school when I could not be in class. No one understood that being in class is where I WANTED to be. It was a LUXURY for me every single day to be able to attend school. It was a victory if I made it to school. And walking across that stage to get my high school diploma... Then walking across that stage to get my degree - my peers could not understand what an accomplishment that was for me.
I have MANY stories of teachers and professors who helped me along the way; mentors that made it possible.
I don't even think my school mates knew that I used to have homework faxed to the Hospital for me.
I am incredibly thankful and indebted to those teachers that helped - even with one small comment. It's hard enough dealing with the symptoms themselves... Then being criticized and made fun of... Then having rumours spread about me... And then trying to stand up for myself and fight for the right to just survive.
Math class was my saving class. Being able to sleep for an hour every day is what allowed me to go to my afternoon class. And having a teacher make one comment that completely deterred an entirely new kind of fight just made me feel like I had one less battle. And at that time - I never knew if I could get through one more battle.