Hanan

Most teachers will tell you that they don’t have favourite students.

That’s a lie.

We’ll tell you that we don’t have favourite students, because that’s the professional thing to do, but it’s a complete lie…there will always be one or two students who stick out from the crowd. We’ll try our best not to let it show that they are our favourites and to treat all students the same, but there will always be that one or two who just make your day.

That’s Hanan for me.

I don’t know how well I’ve been at hiding it this semester, or whether I actually have bothered caring to hide it – it’s hard when there is that one student who is so dedicated and talented…and self-motivated! 

I taught French to her in my first year, Art 1 and 2 last year, and this year she’s in Art 3 (Painting and Drawing).

She’s funny. Every morning for her daily warm-up assignment, she draws her friend Sarah is some strange situation (and it usually involves her getting hurt).

Warm Up: Draw something that makes you cry.

Alright, here’s another one. Proof.

Warm Up: Design a new school uniform.

“I was physically unable to draw her without getting hurt. Syrsly.”

I always look forward to marking her sketchbook. It’s easy and it’s fun!

This one says:

“What is stuck to the bottom of his shoe?”

Sarah is always drawn ridiculously tall (as she really is the tallest student in Grade 12).  
Hanan is a very talented artist and a super sweet kid. She’s real. She’s got a good head on her shoulders.  She’s smart.

And she works hard even when she’s sick.

Which is often.

Because she has Crohn’s Disease (or something very similar to it), she’s often sick. But she doesn’t miss school unless she absolutely has to.  She doesn’t let her illness stop her from coming to school because she said that if she missed school every time she didn’t feel well, she’d never be there.

She’s strong.

She’s hilarious.

She’s graduating this year.

And I am going to miss her like CRAZY.