During contest weekend I was roaming the halls on the lower level (near all the judging rooms). We were extremely short on volunteers so I was hovering between 3 different spots where volunteers would normally sit. As I wandered back and forth I smiled and helped people to their rooms and kept things orderly. After 20 min or so I noticed a girl, about 10 years old, sitting along the wall watching me.
I smiled at her and she seemed to finally get the nerve to ask what she had been pondering for some time.
She pointed at my name tag. “Are you the Erica that signs all of the certificates?”
I had to think for a moment what she was talking about. And then it dawned on me that every student that participates in contest earns a certificate–both at preliminaries and finals. It’s mailed to the teachers with two signatures on it already and a blank for their teacher to sign as well: the President of MMTA and the Program Director (me).
I laughed and said, “Yup, that’s me!”
“Wow!” she whispered to herself. And she watched me walk away with eyes wide, as if she had just met a movie star.
It made me chuckle. I suppose that’s what it must feel like being famous. She probably doesn’t know that my signature is actually printed on all 3,200 certificates by a machine. I don’t actually sit and sign them individually… But still. It was fun.
The thing that warms my heart it that, although the girl saw you as someone famous, you came across to her as approachable enough that she was comfortable asking if you were that Erica. Your kindness and genuine caring shines out wherever you are and whatever you are doing!