More Than You Know

Spanish and English
Classrooms and Students
Filling the Chairs
Filling your heart

You taught us how to speak
How to act, common courtesy.
You taught laughter and love
You taught us how to BE

Working with students like me
Is and was your desire
The circumstances that kept you
Were outside of your power

You used your life
As an example to us
You gave up all you had
To keep US from being lost

We saw God's work in you
And know your faith was true
Senora Hawkins...
How we LOVED you!

And now that we've gone
You are still in our hearts
And heads, and souls...
Your legacy will never part

I pray to God each day
That the love you showed
Will be recognizable in me
YOU helped me GROW!

As we move on in our lives
I will remember you in hope
That I can be a living testimony
Of my teacher, my mentor, my friend...

More than you know.

***

In December of 2002, I lost a mentor.  My High School Spanish teacher.  I wouldn't be the woman I am today if this woman hadn't believed in me and pushed me to become whatever I wanted.
RIP Señora Hawkins