Brooklyn
After my two morning classes I went to the taco place down the street from campus for lunch. After I was done eating I went back to campus for my last class of the day which was with Professor Merlo again. I always show up 15 minutes early for all my classes and she wasn't gonna stop me. I walked in the class 15 minutes early, took out my textbook, notebook, pencil, and laptop, and got started on notes.
In this class we do 3 chapters and take notes because it is a 3 hour class instead of 1 and a half. I read the chapters and took notes. While I was finishing up my third chapter, Professor Merlo came in.
" What did I tell you about being early?" She asked.
" It's routine. Every day I get to my classes 15 minutes early and read and take notes." I say.
"You're overworking yourself. You're already a good student. You have the highest grades in the classes I teach you. You don't need this extra time to do this." She said.
"I'm doing this so that I can help people that had to go through what I did. I really want to help them so I work hard at it. Sometimes I'm up at night reading or researching thing that will help me."
She came and sat in the desk next to me.Not many people know what I went through as a child. It's all hardship and has taught me to push harder that ever. I know what I want and I will continue to work for it.
" Look, I have no idea what happened to you as a kid. I really don't. But I am here for you if you want to talk about it. And I'm trying to help you by saying you need to be careful, don't overwork your brain. I know you want to help people. That is why you are here. But you have your family also. They are more important than this. They love you." She explained. She stood up and walked to her desk. As she was going up the isle, my 6 classmates came in the door. " Sit and turn to page 298, today we will be discussing family trauma, family miscommunications, and also family help."
Ava raised her hand. Ava is my bestie in my advanced classes. The is very kind and helpful. She comes over every once and a while to work on homework or just for dinner.
" Yes Miss Tyler?" Merlo said when she turned from the board.
" How do people manage their schooling and family?" She asked.
" Great question!" She exclaimed. She looked at me. " You have to find a nice balance. Like for example one of my students in my class is married and adopted two kids. She still comes to class 15 minutes early every day and makes it home in time for dinner. If this student didn't push herself to hard this would be a good balance, but she comes in a pushes herself really hard and it has started to effect that balance between her school work. She is spending time when her kids go to bed to do extra research instead of spending that time with her spouse. Does that answer your question?" She answered.
" So in order to keep that balance we need to spend as much time with our family as we can outside of school?" Ava asked.
" Yes that's about right" Merlo said.
Ava looked at me. She knew that Professor Merlo was talking about me. Everyone did. The lecture went on and after we finished our chapters she gave us an assignment to work on at home.
" Class dismissed!" Professor Merlo's voice rang out.
Everyone had already packed up and was going out the door. I closed my notebook and textbook. I put all my stuff in my bag.
" Go home" Merlo said.
" What?" I asked.
"Go home. Do you assignments there. And promise you will eat a home cooked breakfast tomorrow. Class doesn't start till 9 so you will have time.", she said, " And spend some time with your kids and wife tonight. Work on your assignments after the kids go to bed. Not before dinner."
" Ok" I said. I walked out the door. I grabbed my keys out of my bag and headed home.
Amber
I'm on my way to pick up the boys from daycare. Being a kindergarten teacher means I can always get home by 4. I picked them up and got home. Brooklyn's car was already parked in the driveway. I got out of the car and unlocked the house. I went upstairs in our room to find Brooklyn doing her homework on the bed.
" You're home early." I remarked.
" Yeah I wanted to spend time with you guys. Just give me a second to do this last thing. " she replied. She closed her laptop and came over to me. " I love you" she leaned over and gave me a kiss.
