Cheryl

A few years ago, I was working for the local school corporation, and I had spent a couple of years at the high school, a couple of years at the middle school, a few days at some of the elementary schools here and there filling in for Covid, and it came time that I needed to make another transition. This time, I was moving permanently to the intermediate school. And urgently. 

Literally, HR called and told me to report to the new building the next morning. That was at about 3 in the afternoon, just as the school I was working at was letting out for the day. I had just a few minutes to send a mass email, thanking everyone for their friendship and announcing my departure, and to find some folks I wanted to say goodbye to in person. 

The next morning, I showed up at the intermediate school, where I knew literally no one. Not a single soul. Not even the principal or the assistant principal, not my new boss, nothing. They greeted me with joy, welcomed me, set me up with all of the things I would need to succeed, showed me around the building, everything you would expect on Day One of a new gig, and then I went to it...floating around and trying to find my bearings. 

Around lunch, I found an empty teacher workroom with a table in it and sat down by myself to eat. Honestly, I was crying. I was missing my friends at the middle school, and I felt lost in this new place. I had yet to actually meet any of the other staff I would be working with on a daily basis (except for one guy who I knew from somewhere else, and we picked back up immediately...after he ribbed me on the tour, he told the principal he was just joking and that we were lucky to have me). 

All of a sudden, a teacher came in to make some copies and saw me sitting there...and greeted me by name. 

"You must be....! So happy to have you here! We are all looking forward to it." 

Uhm...what? 

She introduced me around to a few of her friends, and by the end of the day, I was starting to feel like there was a place for me there. In fact, everyone already seemed to know me and to appreciate me and to want me there. 

It would take a few more months before I realized what had happened. Cheryl, the principal, had a staff meeting every morning with the building staff. During this meeting, among other things, she made everyone aware of staffing changes - who was coming, who was going, who was out, who was doing whatever. The morning of my arrival, on no notice at all and having not even met me herself, Cheryl introduced me to the staff. Just like that. 

She opened a door I would walk through just a short bit later. 

Oh, how I want to be a person who opens doors. I want others to have the experience in the world that I had at the intermediate school from my very first day - not having to introduce yourself, not having to make an impression, not having to establish a place. Already having a place. Already being known, by name. Already having the good favor of others just by virtue of being there and coming onto the team. 

I want to be a Cheryl. For all the folks who feel like pawns in this world, being shuffled around, wondering if there's a place, wanting a place, I want to be a Cheryl...who makes that place for them before they even get there. 

Thanks, Cheryl. (For that, and for everything.)