When I was teaching third grade, I had a student who struggled with reading. This was back in the olden days, when it was unusual for an eight-year-old to be functionally illiterate. She was particularly quiet and hesitant in class, and when I talked to her, I realized why: previous teachers had somehow convinced her she wasn’t very bright. I could see how [Student] had flown under the radar; she was, after all, a very quiet and well-behaved child, and I’m sure her previous teachers had matters and students and behaviors that seemed more pressing. But I liked to check in with my students individually when able to, and after one conversation with [Student], I could tell that she was incredibly intelligent. The way she thought things over and the way she was able to make many logical connections in her head was like some of my more typically intelligent students.

One day, during a semi-private conversation, [Student] opened up to me in frustration. The way she ranted to me all made sense, but something about the way she spoke about reading seemed off.

Me: “[Student], have you ever had your eyes checked?”

Student: “No, I haven’t.”

I’m sure she must have done it in kindergarten, but the state I was teaching in at the time only mandated eye tests in kindergarten, and I’d heard of children falling through the cracks. I encouraged her to ask her parents about getting her vision checked. From the sound of it, they were a bit reluctant, but to their credit, they followed through.

The next week, [Student] burst into class with a huge grin on her face.

Student: “During the eye test, I could see clearly for the first time!”

It turned out that I was correct. [Student] had horrible vision. Apparently, her vision was so poor that the new glasses she got the following week were only half of the prescription needed to fully correct her vision, and she would get the full prescription in a few months, so as not to overwhelm her brain with the sudden clarity!

Within days of getting her first pair of glasses, [Student] was practically a different child. She was more outgoing and confident, engaging with her classmates, raising her hand to answer questions, and even laughing more.

I have never forgotten this incident, but I thought to share it here after getting an email from [Student] a few days ago with a PDF attached. It was a scientific paper she had written in grad school, which was in very technical jargon that I couldn’t understand, but she also thanked me for seeing the intelligence in her when everyone else had dismissed her.

I’m a jumps coach for a high school track and field team. We’re at a long, all-day invitational meet. During the lunch break, the athletes and coaches play “I’ve Never” to pass the time, i.e., each person takes a turn making a statement like, “I’ve never been on an airplane,” and everyone who has done it is out — school-appropriate statements in this instance.

The throws coach is a very large man and also a Pacific Islander. One of the athletes thinks he has the perfect way to get him out.

Athlete: “I’ve never been Samoan!”

Throws Coach: “Ha! I’m not Samoan; I’m Filipino! I’m just fat!”

He ended up winning the round.

I was in a college marching band, and we did plenty of cheering at sports games.

One day, something very good for our team happened in a game — this was more than twenty-five years ago, so I don’t even remember what sport was being played — and one of our more enthusiastic band members turned around to face the crowd, which was already cheering wildly about the fantastic play. He caught them at the exact right moment, and his voice carried well. Our team was called the Tigers.

Band Member: “GIVE ME A T!”

Hundreds Of People: “T!”

Band Member: “GIVE ME AN I!”

Hundreds Of People: “I!”

Band Member: “GIVE ME AN R!”

Hundreds Of People: “…”

Band Member: “…”

Hundreds Of People: “…”

Band Member: “S***!”

He sat down, and then he stood up and shouted at the crowd one more time while they were chuckling.

Band Member: “I MEANT WELL!”

I’m the oldest of four children, and we all have VERY different personalities and interests.

[Brother] is two years younger than I am and is entering high school for the first time. He signs up for the cross-country team, and the coach starts some get-to-know-you activities, asking everyone to share their name and whether they have any siblings in [High School].

Brother: “I’m [Brother], and I have an older sister named [My Name].”

Teammate #1: “Wait, [My Name]? Short, brown hair, glasses, always has a book?”

Brother: “Yeah, that’s her.”

All the teammates stare at my tall, athletic, sandy-blond brother, who has already shown a disdain for everything academic.

Teammate #2: “…And you’re doing this?“

Not only were his teammates shocked that we were related, but apparently, several of his friends didn’t believe him until I attended his high school graduation four years later!

I was born and raised in the US, but I wear a hijab and speak Arabic with my family. Most people are fine with it, but every now and then, I get one or two jerks.

On the first day of the college semester, I’m in class, and I see another student staring at me wearing an annoyed look. My heart sinks, but I decide to just ignore her unless she says something. Both of us stay after class to talk to the professor, and I brace myself when she turns to me.

Girl: “By the by, this has nothing to do with anything, but your outfit is seriously awesome. With all the different shades of blue, you look like a Disney princess!”

I start laughing, I’m so surprised.

Girl: “Huh? I… thought it was really pretty…”

Me: “No! It’s… it’s not that. You were staring at me earlier, and I thought you were angry or something.”

Girl: “Staring at y— Hang on. Was I making this face?”

She lets her expression drop, and her face immediately slips back into the “I will break your nose and laugh” expression.

Me: “Yes!”

Girl: “Sorry I freaked you out! I was just zoning out, and I have chronic resting b**** face. I promise I wasn’t glaring at you!”

Both of us were laughing by that point, and we finished up and left happily.

I’ve had two classes with her since then, and she’s turned out to be pretty awesome. We passed Calculus I and II with flying colors after studying together, she loves the same kind of horror movies I do, and we’re totally planning on taking neurobiology together next semester so we can keep studying together.