“I FOUND SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY GOOD AT”
“I think what I love most about being a teacher--I think that I found something that I'm really good at, to be quite honest. So it's very meaningful to me. You know, when you find something that you're good at you want to continue doing it, and you want to continue doing it in the best way that you can.”
“I'M A CONSTANT IN THEIR LIVES”
“Just these kids. I feel like I'm a constant in their lives. In our district we have a lot of poverty, a lot of trauma. So I feel that If I can make a difference for them, if I can be that constant in their lives, their supporter, the person that's going to tell them that they're loved every day—even those most difficult kids, when you're hugging them and saying goodbye, and then you're like, I can't wait to see you tomorrow (…) Them just knowing that they have that love and support .”
“I had one kiddo. I think he's in 10th grade right now and I still have a relationship with him. He was a kiddo that I took under my wing. I learned a lot from him, but then, when he went on to the next grades, (...) they didn't want to deal with him, it was, 'Let's send him off. He has to leave the room. We don't want to have to deal with him.' So, even though he grew through those few years and I could watch him grow, I would still have him come back to my room, still have him be a part of helping my kindergartners, being the role model, letting him know that—Look, you are the model now. So just having that relationship with him. 6th grade came around during Covid, his mom sent me a message from him, and it was like, Who are you thankful for? Which teacher? and he said, “Ms. Bella, because she's the only teacher who believed in me.”
“So those kinds of experiences. That's why I love what I do. Because I know I'm making differences in their lives, and I don't think there's anything more rewarding than that.”
“THEY'RE BASICALLY LIKE MY OWN KIDS”
“ I think it's just building those connections. And kids are hilarious. I mean, they make me feel young and they think I'm hilarious, too. They're just so honest.”
“I look forward to having those relationships with the kids as much as they need it. Right now, I have a revolving door in the morning with all the kids that I've previously established relationships with in kindergarten. They're coming in every morning to say hello. They're coming in to get their hugs before they go home.”
“I feel like my life is so much more meaningful now, with all of these kiddos that are in my life. They're basically like my own kids.”