I'm like REALLY smart...

Though I was gifted by God with this bone structure and beautiful hair and wrote in a time capsule when I was 10 that I wanted to be a famous actor/singer when I grew up, my life was not always as obviously bound for success as you may think.

This past week, two of my fellow bound-for-fame friends (as if I have any other kind) sent me a video they had created as part of their new company. The video was to promote a book by the poet Taylor Mali and the poem in the video was "What Teachers Make". I mean, just watch it bitch, I ain't no salesman.

Now, I was not familiar with this poet or this poem before the video. I do not like to wrap myself up in such wasteful things as "emotions", but I couldn't help it. Something reminded my heart how to feel and the past 16 years of education flowed into me.

I suddenly remembered how I had made it here.

My teachers.

Suddenly I wanted to pick up my iPhone 4S and dial every one of their LG flip phones (because we all actually know what teachers make) to thank them.

Thank YOU to my high school chemistry teacher that made me think for a hot second all I wanted to do was teach kids about calorimetry and letting me tell everyone I had a crush on her so I could stay in the closet for an extra year. You really taught me that if you want to learn anything you have to motivate yourself and swallow your pride to ask for help, and then the world was my oyster.

Thank YOU to my high school Forensics teacher (NOT science...it's drama...it's weird...it's a Michigan thing...probably for schizophrenics) for giving me an outlet to perform every week and a taste of stardom. I got to feel what it's like to walk into a room and have everyone fear you.  You taught me how good it feels to WIN and how humbling it feels to LOSE.

Thank YOU to my high school choir teacher who also kicked my ass in English because you taught me I can ACE (yes I said ACE) the SAT and ACT Grammar sections and not care a THING about grammar (as my blog has shown). But, as long as I can belt my heart out at the end of the day, both my mind and soul are happily fed. I will never regret dropping physiology to rejoin you amongst the music. I will never diagram another sentence...nobody will...

Thank YOU to my senior year AP English teacher who supported me through changing my life path in my final weeks of high school. Your passion for what you do showed me that I could never have gone through life fulfilled as a doctor or a lawyer. The passion you instilled in me for writing is why anybody is even reading this. And by the way, I totally called you were going to be principal and I think you owe me like $20 from the bet...but I trust you remember.

and finally

Thank YOU to my college acting professor. True Gold. My biggest goal is to end up on your stage once again. Your classroom was one true place where I felt at peace with life. You taught me that 95% of what I learned will be bullshit to me, but I have clung to that other 5% and it is making all the difference. When I pee my pants on stage, I will think of you.

And sure, these are just the few teachers who I can guess would actively read this blog someday so I'm covering my ass but...

What do these teachers make? Well, the last one probably makes a significantly larger amount per paycheck, but that's not what's important.

What these teachers MAKE are STARS.

Me.

I can only hope the rest of the world is half as grateful as I am.

My favorite jeans are stained with fry grease,

TJB: Making It