They say that the mark of a good teacher goes far beyond the time he was in front of his class teaching his students and cultivating their minds. There are teachers who leave us a part of them for many years after having gone through their class. But the teacher that we will share with you today has passed beyond her death.
Instead of receiving flowers at her funeral, a teacher asked to bring backpacks with school supplies to donate to students who will need them. And his coworkers, as well as his students and alumni, fulfilled his last wish.
Tammy Waddell worked her entire life as a teacher in Georgia, United States, retiring time before she died a few weeks ago at age 58 due to cancer. I was a dedicated teacher, who thought that all children should have the opportunity to learn.
Knowing the day was coming when he would no longer be, through his obituary she asked for a special favor for those who attended her funeral: bring backpacks full of school supplies to donate, instead of the traditional floral arrangements. And they didn't let him down.
His coworkers, his last students and other students of past generations, fulfilled the teacher's last wish. Through a photograph posted on Twitter by one of his cousins, We can see in the chapel where his funeral was, backpacks placed on the ground, honoring Tammy's request.
My cousin's final request at her funeral was Backpacks full of supplies for needy students instead of flowers. A teacher to the end. @TeachersNet @edutopia @EdWeekTeacher pic.twitter.com/eGig25tYwH
- Dr. Brad Johnson (@DrBradJohnson) June 19, 2018
My cousin's last wish at her funeral was backpacks full of school supplies for students who need them, instead of receiving flowers. A teacher until the end.
According to another publication of his cousin, there were 100 teachers who received the task of making sure that those backpacks were delivered to students who will need these tools to continue their studies. He even shared a photograph where we can see the teachers who fulfilled his request.
Honorary pallbearers… Teachers who had taught with her through the years… pic.twitter.com/CyB2pBbBNy
- Dr. Brad Johnson (@DrBradJohnson) June 19, 2018
Honorary bearers ... Teachers who taught with her over the years ...
In another photograph, he himself shared the contents of the backpacks, where we can see how they were full of notebooks, colors and pens, among other school supplies that will surely be very helpful for a student who needs them.
What some of the back packs were filled with… pic.twitter.com/rUWpheecEk
- Dr. Brad Johnson (@DrBradJohnson) June 26, 2018
A simple request with an impressive impact
It is certainly wonderful to see how the whole community came together to fulfill the teacher's last wish, although as we can see now, the impact was probably much greater than she expected.
The publication has been shared thousands of times and many people have contacted to find out how they can donate more backpacks with supplies. Even, according to ABC information, a UK association decided to support the cause and send backpacks to the county where she taught.
Due to the response of the people, who applaud the teacher's request and ask them to be told how they can support, their cousin has shared an address to send donations, but also they are inviting them to replicate this beautiful gesture in the schools of their cities, because in all there may be some student who needs it.
If there is a profession in which the vocation is practically everything, it is being a teacher. Dedicate your life to educate and teach those children that will be the future, It is a job that requires true heart and dedication. And I know that because I grew up in a family of teachers: my grandmother, my mother and my sister chose to be, and I can see the effort and love with which they do their work.
Definitely Professor Tammy Waddell's footprint has gone much further than she imagined, reminding us of the great positive impact that the dedication and dedication of a teacher can have in schools, families and the community in general.
