Lauren Jauregui was 17 years old when her son was born. She had to finish school, work a part time job, and care for her son all on her own. Now, 12 years later and her son is entering middle school, she owns her own business and her life is finally...
Ah, the first day back to school. One of my favorite days in the world. The new upcoming kids, all in the 7th grade, transferring from elementary school to middle school. The new eager minds.
Teaching was my favorite thing in the world. I knew ever since I was young that I had wanted to be a teacher. And I had always had a love for music, so I thought music was definitely the way to go. To connect with these young kids through their taste in music is such a huge part of my day.
I love learning about all the secret talents and abilities these kids have in music that they probably never knew that had. I also love teaching them a thing or two about good music.
My first class of the day was starting in 10 minutes. I looked at the mirror in my office. I wore a pair of black skinny jeans, a Thrasher hoodie which I stole from my best friend, Harry and my black snapback.
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I grabbed my guitar case and walked out of my office down and into my classroom. I saw that I had a healthy bunch of new students. I walked to the board, setting my guitar down near my desk along the way, ignoring the oogling from some of my students. I got it every year. I was covered in tattoos and I looked like I belonged on the cover of a rock album not teaching a middle school music class.
"What's up, everyone. My name is..." I wrote my name out on the board, "Miss Cabello. But you guys can call me Miss C or Cabello. Whatever I don't care be as informal as you'd like. We're gonna be a tight knit family here."
I walked over to my desk and leaned against the front of it, crossing my arms against my chest as I looked around the classroom, grabbing my roster.
"So I'm gonna do what I like to call my moron work and then we can get started. How does that sound?" I asked, there were a few mumbles here and there but I wasn't satisfied, "I can't hear you. Speak up. I'm only 28, so I know I'm not deaf."
"Sounds good!" Chorused my class and I smirked in satisfaction.
"Much better. Now let's see here," I looked down at my roster, "Abigail Anderson," I called first. Then I continued on down the roster, calling name after name. I frowned as I got a look at the first J name in my roster, "Nicolas Jauregui," I called unsurely. No one answered and I looked up, calling for him again, "Nicolas Jauregui. Nicolas," I looked around the room, "Has anyone seen Nicolas Jauregui?"
"I'm here! I'm here!" I turned my head to see a kid with a mop of brown hair run into the classroom, carrying his backpack on one shoulder. He smiled sheepishly as he looked at me while the entire class all snickered, "Sorry I'm late. I couldn't get my locker open. I think it was stuck."
"That's okay. I'm sure everyone struggles with those damned things. Hell, I still do and I'm a teacher," I said flashing him a small reassuring smile, "Nicolas Jauregui, I take it?"
"Yeah that's me. But you can call me Nic. Everyone does. Nicolas is my get in trouble name," he flashes me a bright smile and I chuckle, nodding my head.
"Alright, Nic. Why don't you take a seat so we can get started," I said and he nodded his head.
"Yeah! Sure thing...uh..."
"Miss C," I said and he smiled brightly.
"Right! Sure thing, Miss C!" He turned and hurried to an empty chair in the front, center of the classroom. I shook my head slightly before continuing with attendance. Once I was done, I set my roster down and stood up.
"So...Let's start with something simple. What does music mean to you?" I asked as I walked towards the center of the classroom. No one raised their hands and I smiled slightly, raising an eyebrow, "Anyone?" I looked around, "No one?"
My eyes landed on Nic as he slowly raised his hand. I knew this kid was going to be an active student. I smiled and pointed at him.
"Yes, Nic?"
"My mom raised me on music, I listen to a little bit of everything because of my mom. Plus my dad is in a band. My grandparents love music and so do my aunt and uncle. My grandma has a song for like everything. Even washing dishes and my mom sang me to sleep until I was 8. And sometimes we sing together. And she sings when she is baking and I listen to music all the time."
"So it's safe to say that for you. Music means life?" I asked him and he nodded his head with a small smile as he looked to think about it.
"Yeah. I guess you can say that," he grinned slightly and I nodded, smiling at him.
"That's good. Thank you for sharing, Nic," I said and he smiled at me. I looked around, "Anyone else? Or is Nic the only brave one in class today?"
"What's music mean to you, Miss C?" I turned my head to look at one of the other students, Connor, who was sitting in the back row.
A chorus of "yeahs" could be heard around the whole room and I chuckled as I looked at my class.
"Turning tables, huh?" I questioned and they all just smiled innocently at me, "Well then. For me, music is my world. I've loved music ever since I was 3 and able to sing. I learned to play guitar at 5 and piano at 8. My papi was in a band when we were in Cuba and that's how my parents met. I was in a band in middle school and some of high school. I sang with my father all the time and when he died I kept his guitar and kept playing. I promised to always have music in my life. And now here I am years later, teaching a music class."
"You were in a band? What was it like? Did you get to travel? My dad travels a lot with his band. What'd you play? Did you sing?"
Nic asked question after question and I noticed all the other students were in the background, nodding their heads eagerly, agreeing with his questions. I chuckled as I walked back to my desk, leaning against it.
"Yes I was in a band. It was really fun. Made up of me and some of my best friends. I didn't travel much. We went to LA once but that was about it. I played guitar and was lead singer, so yes I did sing."
"That's so cool," another student, Amber, said from her seat in the front.
"I guess so," I shrugged, still smiling, "But enough of that. Stop trying to distract me. Let's move on. What is your favorite genre of music as well as your favorite song?"
The bell rang signaling the end of my class and I watched as everyone began to pack up their stuff.
"Saved by the bell. Be prepared to come in and talk tomorrow. I want to know about your tastes in music," I said, speaking loudly so everyone could hear me. I watched as they all began to pile out of the room.
"See ya later, Miss C. Your class seems awesome. Can't wait to learn more," Nic waved as he slipped out the door. Yep. This kid was definitely going to be an active student. Adorable.
