The kids have only three more days of school: today was one of the two last full days because the final days are half days. Feed them lunch and get them out — that’s all that has to occur for the day to count, lunch. Everyone got their yearbooks today, so they spent most of the day signing each other’s yearbooks.

Naturally, several students asked me to sign their yearbooks. In the past, I made it easy on myself and kept with my dad-joke persona: I’d ask, “What do you want me to write?” and write whatever they said.

“I don’t know. Something nice.” Into the yearbook goes I don’t know. Something nice.

This year, I decided not to do that. It’s easy, and it’s fun to see the kids’ reactions, but this time, I thought about what I wanted to say to each kid who asked.

It was hard for some of them

Some of the things I wanted to say might not be the greatest thing to write in a yearbook. Not that they were negative, but so many kids sell themselves so short, so many kids who never really worked to their full potential because they didn’t even see their full potential. I sat and pondered for a bit, coming up with something positive and encouraging for everyone, but it wasn’t always easy or automatic.

Except for some kids.

We’re not supposed to have favorites, I know, and I really don’t feel like I do, but there are some kids that are just easier to work with, are just simpler to help reach their potential, are just more relaxed. More blessed some might say.