EARLY GRADUATION LAMPLIGHTER

Ms. Williams’ makes her students feel safe and cared for

By Jaliyah Gourie Senior,

Early Graduation

The Lamplighter Award is an award presented to educators who have shown how amazing they are at their jobs, but what about those educators who go above and beyond? Those are the ones who talk to their students, who are determined to see them succeed, and who are not afraid to dig into the students’ personal lives to make sure they succeed. Ms. Williams is one of those educators who are not afraid to step outside their comfort zone.

When I first came to Longview Early Graduation High School, I had no interest in learning anything. I felt like there was nothing at the school for me, especially after being out of school for so long. I felt hopeless. The number of times I had people in my ear telling me I would never be anything or that I was already a failure in life was countless. I was stressed and depressed and eventually stopped caring. That was until one day when I walked into school crying. Ms. Williams saw me and pulled me aside and sat me down. In the beginning I did not know how to feel or if I could even trust talking to her, but she sat there—still—and waited for me to talk. Eventually I did. I felt safe and cared for, feelings I had not had for a long time. She provided that comfort for me. Soon she was pushing me even harder in school so I could earn my high school credits and graduate. She was my hope when I did not have any, and for that I will be forever grateful.

Unfortunately, in January I had a bad accident that took its toll on my mental and physical health. I felt very abnormal. While other people pitied me, Ms. Williams never did. At one point I felt as if I would forever be the girl others pitied, but Ms. Williams never let me see myself as that. On my first day back at school, I was still in a wheelchair. Everyone

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