Friday was an interesting day for me at school.

Just to give my readers insight into my job, my position as a computer teacher I have 7th and 8th-grade students for nine weeks at a time then they move on to either Art or PE classes. 5th and 6tth grade classes are a bit different in their schedule because of the class sizes.

My 8th-grade students were working on their final projects for me creating a lyric video on iMovie. Everyone was focused and excited and working diligently on their projects. All is good.

My 7th graders are working on their last project for the quarter for me. They are putting together an iMovie about their Bucket List. 40 things they want to accomplish before they “kick the bucket”. I have 19 boys and 9 girls in that class so you could say trying to keep them focused on their project is a bit challenging.

I had a student who was absent while I was teaching the 7th graders so on Friday when he returned he asked me what we were doing. I explained the project to him and he seemed confused. Here is how the conversation went:

Me: A bucket list is a list of things you would like to do before you leave this earth. They are the goals you would like to accomplish.

Student: I don’t want to do anything.

Me: Do you want to get your driver’s license?

Student: I don’t want to drive.

Me: How about getting a job or your own house? Maybe build your own house?

Student: Nope.

Me: OK. Well, there are websites with many different ideas for your bucket list. Try looking at those.

I couldn’t break through to him. I was discouraged and I felt sorry for him that he has no dreams or aspirations for his life. I am guessing that he gets no support at home when he talks about his dreams so he just shuts down to everyone.

Eventually, he was getting help from another student he was sitting next to and I felt a bit better he was working on his assignment, but still a little discouraged I couldn’t help him with his dreams.

Later that afternoon, I had a student come in to pick up his papers he printed (the student printer is in my room). He came over to my desk to visit with me. Here is our conversation:

Student: I heard somewhere that we might be able to choose our classes next year. Is this true?

Me: I haven’t heard anything official yet. Were teachers talking about this?

Student: No. If I was able to choose classes I would choose computers because it’s my favorite.

Me: Awww. Thank you!

Student: What would we do in computer class?

Me: We would be able to do some really cool things like coding, making apps, websites.

Student: Cool! See you later!

That took away all of my discouragement from earlier that morning. It made me feel hopeful that even though I might not reach every student that comes to my classroom, I do reach the ones that want to be there and are open to what I am teaching them.