'Tis the season to be grateful, and that’s why The Show's latest SOAPBOX essay collection is all about giving thanks.
This time we invited students of high school English teacher Carrie Deahl for their take on the theme.
Deahl has taught for 26 years, currently at Alhambra High School in west Phoenix. Deahl loves memoir assignments. They believe this gives students an opportunity to take risks in their writing, which leads to better storytelling.
Deahl's student, ninth-grader Ciara Espinoza, shared a story about her great grandma.
CIARA ESPINOZA: I am grateful. I am grateful for my lovely great nana. She chose my name, took care of me, raised, fed and held me as I grew.
My favorite memory with my nana, whose name is Josie, was when I was six.
I was climbing our olive tree to get the soccer ball my friend kicked. As I climbed and got extremely high, I heard cracking. The branch that I was on started to crack and break. My nana, who was gardening, heard me screaming and crying for her help. She told me to jump, but I couldn't out of fear.
Irritated, she hit the branch with a gardening tool. Sadly, when the branch broke, she didn't catch me and I fell. Luckily, I didn't break or sprain anything. Just a few cuts and bruises. My nana took care of my wounds.
After, we went to bed. I always slept with her no matter the circumstances, until I was 12, when she passed away.
I love my nana and the time we shared. I loved it when we cooked together, especially when we made our favorite, fruit salad.
She will always be my great grandma, my caretaker and my mother. I am grateful for all the time I was given with her, the way she taught me and for being able to call her my nana.
I am grateful.
