Part of what I miss about teaching is the truly exceptional students that I got to meet, that I got to watch grow up. Teachers get a birds-eye view of the microcosm of the world–the high school classroom and all its social levels and politics. Every high school has the same characters. The stand-out all-star athletes. The wise-beyond-their-years kids. The gonna-be-a-millionaire-by-thirty go getters. The genuine sweethearts.
A handful of these students are truly exceptional. Some I could never forget. Lucy Kenyon was one of those kids. She was one of the sweethearts. She was also a Yearbook editor and a diligent student so I spent quite a bit of time with her, and we became very close. When I left LSA, she was one of the handful of students that I kept in touch with.
Lucy died yesterday. Colon cancer–nasty and relentless and fast.
There must be hundreds of Lucy’s loved ones and acquaintances who feel a lot like I do right now. “Why LUCY?” Like I said, she was truly exceptional. Truly a joy to be around. She was funny, but she laughed so hard at other people’s jokes that everyone felt witty around Lucy. She was silly and very tease-able. She reflected your good qualities right back at you. When Lucy and I would go shopping after I left LSA, she would always tell me what good taste I had. “Take me to the best stores!” she would say. “I know you know where they are.” I didn’t really, and we would laugh when we ended up at thrift stores selling junk.
Lucy always expected the best of other people. Because of this, she was often disappointed when they hurt her. A lot of times she came to me when someone let her down. She could be so fragile like that. So confused why someone didn’t meet her expectations. My daughters are just like that at times. I still think of Lucy when they are.
But there’s one moment in my relationship with Lucy that I’ve reflected on thousands of times. It’s been a moment that sort of represents my teaching experience at LSA. One of those moments that I can remember so clearly.
I taught a small religion class called “Articulating Your Faith.” The students did a chapel where they all read their personal faith stories. This wasn’t really Lucy’s thing, and she was so nervous to write and read her testimony. She spent hours at my desk trying to get it right.
She did get it right, and I can still remember sitting on a stool in front of her high school telling them about her faith. She said she had never been very religious, but that she was so glad to be at LSA. “I’ve learned so much about Jesus and that He loves us.”
It’s that moment that I think about today.
Good-bye, sweet Lucy.
You were one of the exceptional ones.
perfectly written
Coul I please get your contact information? I am starting a foundation in Lucys honor and I am trying to get into contact with as many people as possible. Thank you for writing this beautiful blog.
Elizabeth Gutierrez
Enicholegutierrez@gmail.com
Coul I please get your contact information? I am starting a foundation in Lucys honor and I am trying to get into contact with as many people as possible. Thank you for writing this beautiful blog.
Elizabeth Gutierrez
Enicholegutierrez@gmail.com