On Top

This requires a little background on Kadian. Since 6th grade, Kadian has been one of the shyest, quietest members of her class. When she enrolled, it took the school months to correct a spelling error in her recorded last name: she just never told anyone the weekly progress report was incorrect. In the 9th grade, she positively refused to attend an overnight retreat with members of her class.

Over the years, Kadian has made a concerted effort to come out of her shell. She raises her hand more in class. She initiates conversations in the cafeteria. And of course, she ultimately agreed to spend a week in Rome.

Anyway, this afternoon we hit a low point at lunch. The group had been dragging. When we entered the cafeteria, they flopped into cafeteria seats. Jackets and hats were on. (I've forbidden this in restaurants.) I was tired of pulling teeth and got very white in the face:

"You feel like this because you did not sleep last night. Tonight, you need to go to sleep at bedtime. Now SIT UP!"

We grudgingly consumed our lunches.

The afternoon offered four free hours. We were a 30-minute walk from our evening's destination, but we had nothing programmed for the remaining time. We were still near St. Peter's. I made a suggestion, with the caveat that we'd only do it with universal agreement:

We could climb to the cupola on top of the church. Characterized by our gude as the best view in Rome, the guide also warns:

"The staircase actually winds between the outer wall and the inner one. It's a sweaty, crowded, clausterphobic 15-minute, 323 step climb."

Before I caught my breath, Kadian raised her hand and said something. I misunderstood, and responded, "that's right. CLAUSTERPHOBIC." She replied a little louder: "No. I said I'll do it!"

We went around the circle, and one by one, kids said, "yes," or raised hands, or simply nodded. And the group was changed.

We spent 90 minutes in line happily discussing college and careers and BPCPS history. Then we spent half an hour climbing between the walls. When we emerged-thirty stories high, winded and smiling, Dania exclaimed, "I want to stay here forever!"

The rest of the afternoon was a celebratory stroll along the Tiber. Students learned to haggle with street vendors and played with a mime, and sat up very straight at dinner.

Perhaps the happiest afternoon I've had with teenagers, in a very long time.