Our teachers were nurturing and insightful. Most of them lived in Memphis and drove to our school in Arlington. Their children also attended the same school. As the years passed, I learned to spell well. Every night, I practiced my spelling words by the dim light of the coal-oil lamp. Toward the end of the year, my fifth grade teacher lined the students up on each side of the room, girls against boys for a spelling match. The two top winners received a shiny quarter. It was just enough money to buy lunch and milk. There were no government assistance lunch programs that we were aware of. If we didn’t have a lunch or lunch money, we did without. I think the teacher knew I would always place first or second, and this was her way of letting me earn lunch money. She didn’t want to single any student out and make us feel ashamed. This spelling competition went on throughout my fifth grade year. Almost every day, I gave my shiny quarter to the motherly cafeteria lady and enjoyed a healthy lunch.
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As I continued on my journey, I learned many more valuable lessons in life. As I grew, my value system grew. Things that seemed most important became less important.