When I started writing in this space back in October of 2010, all I really wanted to do was write about Stanford Football. I hoped that a few people beyond my friends might discover the site, and maybe they'd even come back from time to time.
During the course of the ten seasons that I've been covering the team, this site has given me more than just the opportunity to combine my love of writing with my love of the Cardinal. I've been able to interview some of the greatest players from Stanford's past -- Darin Nelson, Troy Walters, Tommy Vardell, Ed McCaffrey -- and some of the legends from this current era -- David Shaw, Andrew Luck, Christian McCaffrey, Bryce Love, and others. I've connected with Stanford fans and players (and parents of players) from Hawaii to Florida, and I've been able to write about three Stanford Rose Bowls. It's been far more than I ever could've dreamed.
What I never could've guessed back then, however, was how much this site would end up helping my students. As a middle school English teacher, nothing makes me happier than sharing the joy of reading with my students. I continue to teach a wide variety of sixth and seventh graders, including some of the top students in our school as well as a class for some of our struggling readers. Because of the generous donations of my readers over the past seven years, I've been able to assemble what is almost certainly one of the best classroom libraries in the school district. Thanks to the 495 books that have been donated by GMC readers over the years, I've been able to open my students' eyes to the joy of reading.
The struggling readers who showed up in my room on August 29th have become emerging readers, not just finding enjoyment between the pages of a book, but (naturally) becoming more confident in their other classes as well.
This year I'd like to expand our influence beyond the walls of my classroom. Project LIT is a grassroots movement whose goal is to expose middle and high school students to books with diverse characters written by diverse authors. (Search the hashtag #ProjectLITCommunity on Twitter.) I've opened a Project LIT chapter at our school, and our first meeting last month was a tremendous success. All we need now is more books.
So if you're interested, you can head over to my Amazon wish list and send a book or two our way. I'm hoping to add several copies of our next three titles -- The First Rule of Punk, Amal Unbound, and New Kid. I know that people are busy, and I know that there are lots of other demands on your wallet, but I also know that a book donation to Room 903 will change some lives.
Thank you for reading and thank you for giving. Thank you for everything.
