'I'm going to cry': B.C. teacher inspires student's meaningful tattoo
While the high school hallways were empty of students, Alison Calder was full of questions about her teaching career.
“It was a question if I was even having an impact,” Alison says. “Am I making a difference?”
At the same time, her new student Cienna Dixon was seriously struggling with her mental health.
“Huge trauma upon trauma, upon trauma,” Cienna says.
But then, Cienna started frequenting Alison’s drama classroom, and discovered her darkest days filling with light.
“She was the first person who I felt saw me, notice me, cared for me,” Cienna says.
It was an unconditional acceptance, which over five years in class together led to huge healing.
“It was life-changing,” Cienna says. “And I don’t use that word lightly.”
Just as Alison never said a specific phrase to Cienna lightly.
“Whenever she would share something, I would say, ‘Girl, I’m with you always,'” Alison says. “‘You are never alone.’”
An enduring message, that inspired Cienna to commission a permanent tribute to her teacher.
The student revealed her tattoo (featuring that phrase) on her graduation day.
Another student caught the moment on camera, which Alison posted on her Instagram page.
It shows Cienna rolling up her sleeve and Alison reading the message on her arm.
“It’s in my handwriting,” Alison gasps in disbelief. “Are you kidding me?!”
Cienna had enlisted another teacher to get Alison to hand-write the phrase on a piece of paper, before asking the tattoo artist to copy it.
Alison had no idea what it was for until now.
And after too many moments of questioning her value, her impact, her purpose, seeing this answer in ink couldn’t have been more affirming.
“I’m going to cry,” Alison says, covering her face with her hands.
“It’s a really small thank you for everything that you did for me,” Cienna says through tears, before Alison bends down, overwhelmed with tears of gratitude.
“I knew in that moment,” Alison recalls. “I’m exactly where I need to be.”
Thanks to Alison, Cienna had been empowered to be even more than she ever imagined she could be.
“I’m excited (about the future now),” Cienna smiles. “I don’t think I would have been able to see life so colourfully if I hadn’t been there.”
Alison hopes this connection beyond the curriculum will inspire others.
“I hope this student of mine takes my connection with her and she goes on and connects with someone else,” Alison says. “When we can keep that impact domino going — magic.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Who should lead the Liberals? 'None of the above,' poll finds
As questions loom over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership, a new Nanos Research poll commissioned for CTV News says a quarter of Canadians say none of the potential candidates appeal to them.
Canada's response to Trump deportation plan a key focus of revived cabinet committee
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's promise to launch a mass deportation of millions of undocumented people has the Canadian government looking at its own border.
New technology solves mystery of late First World War soldier's flower sent home to Canada
In 1916, Harold Wrong plucked a flower from the fields of Somme, France and tucked it into a letter he mailed home to Toronto. For decades, the type of flower sent remained a mystery.
U.S. election maps: How did 2024 compare to 2020 and 2016?
Though two states have yet to be officially called, the U.S. election map has mostly been settled. How does it compare with the previous two elections?
Canada rent report: What landlords are asking tenants to pay
Average asking rents declined nationally on a year-over-year basis for the first time in more than three years in October, said a report out Thursday.
N.S. school 'deeply sorry' for asking service members not to wear uniforms at Remembrance Day ceremony
An elementary school in the Halifax area has backed away from a request that service members not wear uniforms to the school's Remembrance Day ceremony.
Remembrance Day: What's open and closed in Canada?
While banks and post offices will be closed nationwide on Remembrance Day, shops and businesses could be open depending on where you live in Canada.
BREAKING Judicial recount for Surrey-Guildford confirms B.C. NDP's majority
The B.C. New Democrats have a majority government of 47 seats after a judicial recount in the riding of Surrey-Guildford gave the party's candidate 22 more votes than the provincial Conservatives.
48,584 space heaters recalled in Canada after burn injury in U.S.
Health Canada has announced a recall for electric space heaters over potential fire and burn risks, a notice published Thursday reads.