By Patrick Robinson

I attended Hazel Valley Elementary School which is still there (though thankfully remodeled) on 132nd Street SW where it has served many thousands of students for decades. As the crucible for formative experiences it was pretty great. I had many milestones there as I am sure you did in your own school.

Counting to 100, learning to read, make art, do math,  but most of all how to get along with others. Schools are in part about socialization. 

I was in 2nd grade in Mrs. Heacock’s class and we had an assignment to do a report on Monarch Butterflies. It was about doing a bit of art and sharing some facts about them. So I worked hard on my report, carefully drawing the black and orange insects on the rough paper and writing down what I had learned about them. I was pretty proud of my work and got done a little sooner than others so I stepped out in the hall to get a drink of water.

Standing near the water fountain was Frank. He was big for his age, with a mop of dark hair and husky shoulders. He didn’t talk much but I knew him from the playground and he seemed ok to me. So I asked him, “Hi Frank did you want to see my Monarch Butterfly report?”… he didn’t say a word but quickly punched me. HARD in the stomach. I fell down could not breathe. He walked away. I struggled to my feet and staggered into the classroom and managed to whisper through my tears, “Frank punched me.” Mrs. Heacock who was a wonderful teacher said something strange. “If you can’t get along Patrick you should just leave.”  

Ok.. that’s how it is. I see.

So I did. I walked out the door and began walking home. We lived some distance from the school but if getting punched for no reason was ok and my choice was to stay or go… I was outta there. I felt abandoned, alone and unsupported. A bully had attacked me.

I was walking briskly and got about a hundred yards past the playground when a big gray car pulled up and stopped.

It was Mrs. Heacock. She looked panicked (I knew what that looked like from seeing my Mom sometimes). She said. “Patrick I am sorry, I didn’t mean for you to leave the school. Please get in the car.”

She didn’t say anything more on the 1 minute drive back to the school. But I noticed Frank wasn’t there when I got back. She didn’t tell me where he went. Later I saw that he wasn’t i my class anymore. 

My point in sharing this is that even though that experience was 66 years ago (yikes!) I recall it quite vividly because of how it made me feel. The human mind works to cement memories when adrenaline is present. You know this because any exciting, scary, joyful, anger producing, tearful or otherwise deeply evocative emotional experience you’ve had is etched in your mind in great detail. So remember this, people will forget what you said, what they’ve learned, and more unless it’s associated with something that drives their emotions. They will never forget how they felt. 

Do your best to make others feel good.