Tutoring at the PLC minus the tutoring part...2/8

Today was an interesting day at the PLC. I walked in and was a few minutes late because parking was full in the lots next to the school. When I finally did walk into Mr. Piazza's class (keep in mind I was only about 3-4 minutes later than normal) Tangela turned around and said "Well, I guess you did decide to show up" and then turned back to her computer screen. I walked over and sat down next to her and said that if I was ever not going to be there I would text her so that she would be aware. This calmed her down and I asked her how she was doing and sadly she said that she was not doing well. She had gotten word that her grandfather was feeling very ill and was going to have to be put in hospice while he basically waited to die. She said they offered medications and had ideas to help "his condition" (she was not specific as to what this was) but that he refused them and said he was ready to die. He was tired and had lived long enough. I could tell this attitude really upset Tangela, but she said it didn't bother her too much. She then told me she was really tired and had started a job to make some money. She was working at a daycare on the other side of town from the school and from her home, and she does not have a car. She said that this has been very frustrating because if she takes a bus she will possibly be late, since the bus is not always on schedule. Her other option is having her brother or sister drive her, but this is bothersome to them since she needs to be at work at 7 and then they must pick her back up and have her to the PLC by 10. She said she offered and has been paying them gas money out of her small paycheck. Her siblings have not been being very reliable because a few times that she has woken them up to take her to work they say they have no gas when Tangela has given them gas money to last for a week and they have used up the gas gong to other places of their choosing. This just broke my HEART. I have never in my life even imagined going through a situation like this. I have had a car of my own since I was 15 (while it was old and used it worked). My parents decided and were able to pay for every necessity for me as long as I made A's and B's and stayed out of trouble with the school and the police. I did have a job and worked a few days a week for extras I wanted to buy. I wanted to break down and cry when Tangela told me all of this. I, like her, felt helpless in the situation. I talked to her about trying to catch one time slot earlier on the bus, and while she would have to get up earlier, she would not have to worry about being late. We also discussed her giving her siblings money only at the gas station so she can physically watch them put it in their car to make sure the money all together is not going to something else. She then said something that I will not soon forget, and it went something like this, "You know, Hannah, sometimes I just want to quit, quit school, quit my job, just lay around my apartment all day and do nothing, but I'm not going to do that. I have to keep telling myself that I'm going to do this. I will graduate and I will not quit. Will you be at my graduation Hannah?" Through misty eyes, I told her that of course I would be there and I was proud of her. We squeezed in about 15 minutes of flashcards online for her Economics class and hugged and I left for the day. What a day so crucial in developing my mind as a future teacher. I will be compassionate and loving to my students, because that's what they deserve. I got into my car today and was a little worried because we did not do much Econ, but this was the first time all year that I had asked Tangela if everything was okay and she said no. It was an amazing day at my happy place and I left feeling hopeful for Tangela and her situation.