Laughter filled the air as Mia continued her story to the audience that had accumulated around her desk. "And just when I didn't think it could get any worse, the car began to roll away behind us!"
Just then the bell rang and everyone dispersed to their own desks as Mr. Garcia walked up to the whiteboard.
"Good afternoon, class! I see everyone's winter breaks have been...eventful?" He raised an eyebrow at Mia and the class broke out in giggles. "It's great to see you all again. So this is what it feels like to be seniors in your last semester. And this class, five months from now, will be the last class you attend on your last day in high school." The class grew quiet as they considered this idea. "This class, Civics, is an important one as you prepare for this transition. It is a class that asks of you: Who are you? What do you value? How do your choices reflect those values? As we learn and grow as students and citizens, we will come to know those answers and use that knowledge to serve our community."
A student raised their hand. Mr. Garcia nodded for them to speak. "And what if we already know who we are and what we value?"
Mr. Garcia smiled. "Ah, an important question. Do we, as people, ever change? Are we the same day after day forever and ever? Can events in our lives change our values or prioritize our values? These are all questions you will have to find your answers to, both inside this class and outside of it."
The class continued for the next half hour as Mr. Garcia introduced the syllabus, reviewed class expectations, and they began their first unit on Rights and Responsibilities. When the bell rang to end the day, the class gathered their things as they discussed their plans for the day. Mr. Garcia taped on Mia's desk as she zipped up her backpack.
"Did you ever get the car back?" He smiled as she laughed.
"We did, but only after it was stopped by a tree. Worst camping trip ever!" Mia responded lightheartedly.
"Hey, I went camping too during break," Mr. Garcia replied. "My wife and I checked out that state park off of 35. Although, I think she came home feeling the same way about camping as you."
Mia cringed. "That bad, Mr. Garcia?"
He laughed. "Well, let's just say she's more of a city girl."
"I guess you could say she values air conditioning and a memory foam mattress," Mia playfully quipped. Mr. Garcia laughed out loud and she joined him as the crowd exited the room.
Mr. Garcia's face grew serious after a moment and he picked up her notebook covered in doodled hearts and handed it to her as she stood. "And what do you value, Mia?"
For a moment their hands both clutched the notebook between them as she gazed back into his eyes. Then he broke eye contact and let out a soft chuckle as he dropped his hand away.
"You'll figure it out Mia, don't worry."
She smiled and wished him a good day before she slipped out of the room.
-------
The week went by quickly amidst the classes, sports, clubs, and events. By Friday afternoon, Mia was definitely ready for the weekend. Though she wasn't in sports, she was a fan of cheering them on, and the basketball game tonight was exactly what she needed to relax after the stress of school had consumed her all week.
As she entered Mr. Garcia's class, she laughed to herself. It was only three years before that she had walked into this room as a freshmen for World Geography and first met Mr. Garcia. It was her favorite class then, not because geography was anything exciting, but because Mr. Garcia was always thought-provoking, insightful, and caring. She smiled as she realized she both had the opportunity to start high school and end it with him.
"Hey Mia, you comin' to the game tonight," Justin called out to her as she walked to her seat.
"You know it!" She exclaimed as she plopped down into her seat.
"Good. I wanna see that ass cheer me on tonight," Justin replied flirtatiously as he winked at her.
She laughed at his cockiness and slipped in, "Who said I'd be cheering for you?" just before the bell rang for class to begin.
"Ah, basketball," Mr. Garcia started, as he walked around the class of seniors now settled in their seats. "Two sides, fighting for control of the court, trying to win the game...and how does basketball compare to politics in our society?"
Justin jumped on that question quickly. "Well the players in basketball are a helluva lot sexier than politicians!"
The class joined in his laughter for a moment, but Mia's eyes stayed focused on Mr. Garcia. He always had an answer that made her question everything she knew. She definitely didn't want to miss this one.
As though he could hear her thoughts, Mr. Garcia turned in her direction. "Mia, what do you think? How do the two activities compare?"
Her brow furrowed as she considered it a moment. She noticed he waited patiently, never pushing her to answer before she was ready.
