Mrs. M.....1st Period.....Choir Class.....Room 209

By: Sharon K. Shubert

I was afraid to enter Jr. High. It seemed to be a scary, big old building with kids I didn't know. There would be older kids in the eighth and ninth grade there too and I didn't want to go!

Tossing and turning on my bed all night I worried about what the next day would bring; what I would wear, I hated my hair, would I see any of my elementary school friends? I finally fell into a fitful sleep, waking up every hour or so to look at the bedside clock that seemed to be ticking unusually slow. Tick, tick, tick......

The morning was a mad rush of everyone needing in the bathroom at once, running through the house trying to find matching socks, stray shoes, and gathering school supplies. We hurriedly sat down to the breakfast my mother had prepared and I just couldn't make myself eat. My stomach was in knots as I thought about the foreboding place I was about to go......JR. HIGH, the unknown, the place all sixth graders dreaded and talked about all summer long. JR. HIGH......oh no!

There was the usual chattering going on in the car; my mom telling us details about her JR. HIGH days and oh what fun she had. It was going to be great, we would see.....yeah right.

We pulled up to the front of the school and there were hundreds of kids everywhere! I quickly scanned faces and felt a wave of panic when I didn't see any familiar ones! I gripped the door handle and forced myself to get out of the car. I pulled at my clothes, rearranging and fussing with my skirt, smoothing my hateful hair, balanced my armload of supplies and forged ahead........to JR. HIGH.

I had my schedule somewhere......I fumbled through my load, while trying not to look as nervous as my insides were screaming that I was. Here it is.....Mrs. M....1st Period....Choir Class....Room 209. Ok, I liked singing and was excited about signing up for a choir class back in sixth grade when we filled out all of those papers, but now......oh boy....where is Room 209?

I climbed the stairs amid a rush of loud, boisterous boys in brand new gym clothes, running down on the way to their first gym class of the year. I timidly moved over to the side banister and let them push their way through, then I proceeded to find Mrs. M.....1st Period...Choir Class....Room 209.

There it is! My heart was pounding in my chest as I saw dozens of boys and girls streaming into a brightly lit classroom. They were all laughing and talking loudly as I followed behind.

It was chaotic, noisy and brightly decorated in this room. A big old high back piano stood in the very middle of the room with it's back facing the front of a stage. 4 long rows of risers filled the mini stage. So that's where we would stand and sing! What an unusual class this would be!

All of the sudden the noise is interrupted by a feisty, lively song pounding from the piano and a little tiny lady with blonde hair piled on top of her head jumps up from behind! She keeps playing while she's smiling at everyone and starts singing Good Morning, Good Morning, loudly and calling for us to join in. We all shyly joined in, then she went into some old familiar songs and we sang a couple of lively verses.

She's very energetic and animated as she goes from person to person and pats each one, smiles and asks each one their name. She has something friendly to say to all. She tells us her name and about her years of teaching and that she just wants us to learn music and enjoy the class. She never quits smiling the entire time. She is upbeat, happy and I've never seen anyone with so much energy!

Amazingly I forgot my nervousness and my fear of JR. HIGH that day in the very first class, because of this wonderful teacher and her approach to teaching. My seventh grade year was full of wonderful choir concerts, plays and the most fun I ever experienced in a classroom. Mrs. M. not only taught us to use our voices, she taught us patience, laughter, friendliness, great spirit and most of all.....love.

I'll never forget......Mrs. M......1st Period....Choir Class.....Room 209........

HOME