In my living room, there is a plaque that advises me to "Bloom where you are planted."
In
my
living
room
,
there
is
a
plaque
that
advises
me
to
``
Bloom
where
you
are
planted
.
''
It reminds me of Dorothy.
It
reminds
me
of
Dorothy
.
I got to know Dorothy in the early 1980s, when I was teaching Early Childhood Development through a program with Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky.
I
got
to
know
Dorothy
in
the
early
1980s
,
when
I
was
teaching
Early
Childhood
Development
through
a
program
with
Union
College
in
Barbourville
,
Kentucky
.
The job responsibilities requested occasional visits to the classroom of each teacher in the program.
The
job
responsibilities
requested
occasional
visits
to
the
classroom
of
each
teacher
in
the
program
.
Dorothy stands out in my memory as one who "bloomed" in her remote area.
Dorothy
stands
out
in
my
memory
as
one
who
``
bloomed
''
in
her
remote
area
.
Dorothy taught in a school In Harlan County, Kentucky, Appalachian Mountain area.
Dorothy
taught
in
a
school
In
Harlan
County
,
Kentucky
,
Appalachian
Mountain
area
.
To get to her school from the town of Harlan, I followed a road winding around the mountain.
To
get
to
her
school
from
the
town
of
Harlan
,
I
followed
a
road
winding
around
the
mountain
.
In the eight-mile journey, I crossed the same railroad track five times, giving the possibility of getting caught by the same train five times.
In
the
eight-mile
journey
,
I
crossed
the
same
railroad
track
five
times
,
giving
the
possibility
of
getting
caught
by
the
same
train
five
times
.
Rather than feeling excited by this drive through the mountains, I found it depressing.
Rather
than
feeling
excited
by
this
drive
through
the
mountains
,
I
found
it
depressing
.
The poverty level was shocking and the small shabby houses gave me the greatest feeling of hopelessness.
The
poverty
level
was
shocking
and
the
small
shabby
houses
gave
me
the
greatest
feeling
of
hopelessness
.
From the moment of my arrival at the little school, all gloom disappeared.
From
the
moment
of
my
arrival
at
the
little
school
,
all
gloom
disappeared
.
Upon arriving at Dorothy's classroom.
Upon
arriving
at
Dorothy
's
classroom
.
I was greeted with smiling faces and treated like a queen.
I
was
greeted
with
smiling
faces
and
treated
like
a
queen
.
The children had been prepared to show me their latest projects.
The
children
had
been
prepared
to
show
me
their
latest
projects
.
Dorothy told me with a big smile that they were serving poke greens salad and cornbread for "dinner" (lunch).
Dorothy
told
me
with
a
big
smile
that
they
were
serving
poke
greens
salad
and
cornbread
for
``
dinner
''
(
lunch
)
.
In case you don't know, poke greens are a weed-type plant that grows wild, especially on poor ground.
In
case
you
do
n't
know
,
poke
greens
are
a
weed-type
plant
that
grows
wild
,
especially
on
poor
ground
.
Dorothy never ran out of reports of exciting activities of her students.
Dorothy
never
ran
out
of
reports
of
exciting
activities
of
her
students
.
Her enthusiasm never cooled down.
Her
enthusiasm
never
cooled
down
.
When it came time to sit for the testing and interviewing required to receive her Child Development Associate Certification, Dorothy was ready.
When
it
came
time
to
sit
for
the
testing
and
interviewing
required
to
receive
her
Child
Development
Associate
Certification
,
Dorothy
was
ready
.
She came to the assessment and passed in all areas.
She
came
to
the
assessment
and
passed
in
all
areas
.
Afterward, she invited me to the one-and-only steak house in the area to celebrate her victory, as if she had received her Ph.
Afterward
,
she
invited
me
to
the
one-and-only
steak
house
in
the
area
to
celebrate
her
victory
,
as
if
she
had
received
her
Ph
.
D. degree.
D.
degree
.
After the meal, she placed a little box containing an old pen in my hand.
After
the
meal
,
she
placed
a
little
box
containing
an
old
pen
in
my
hand
.
She said it was a family heirloom, but to me it is a treasured symbol of appreciation and pride that cannot be matched with things.
She
said
it
was
a
family
heirloom
,
but
to
me
it
is
a
treasured
symbol
of
appreciation
and
pride
that
can
not
be
matched
with
things
.
(360 words)
(
360
words
)
In my living room, there is a plaque that advises me to "Bloom where you are planted." It reminds me of Dorothy. I got to know Dorothy in the early 1980s, when I was teaching Early Childhood Development through a program with Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. The job responsibilities requested occasional visits to the classroom of each teacher in the program. Dorothy stands out in my memory as one who "bloomed" in her remote area.  Dorothy taught in a school In Harlan County, Kentucky, Appalachian Mountain area. To get to her school from the town of Harlan, I followed a road winding around the mountain. In the eight-mile journey, I crossed the same railroad track five times, giving the possibility of getting caught by the same train five times. Rather than feeling excited by this drive through the mountains, I found it depressing. The poverty level was shocking and the small shabby houses gave me the greatest feeling of hopelessness.  From the moment of my arrival at the little school, all gloom disappeared. Upon arriving at Dorothy's classroom. I was greeted with smiling faces and treated like a queen. The children had been prepared to show me their latest projects. Dorothy told me with a big smile that they were serving poke greens salad and cornbread for "dinner" (lunch). In case you don't know, poke greens are a weed-type plant that grows wild, especially on poor ground.  Dorothy never ran out of reports of exciting activities of her students. Her enthusiasm never cooled down. When it came time to sit for the testing and interviewing required to receive her Child Development Associate Certification, Dorothy was ready. She came to the assessment and passed in all areas. Afterward, she invited me to the one-and-only steak house in the area to celebrate her victory, as if she had received her Ph. D. degree. After the meal, she placed a little box containing an old pen in my hand. She said it was a family heirloom, but to me it is a treasured symbol of appreciation and pride that cannot be matched with things. (360 words)