Olivia D.'s Apple

This apple reminds me to make welcoming spaces for all.

When I started working for a new school district, I wasn't sure who to eat lunch with or talk with to get some adult interaction. It was like being in middle school again.

One teacher started introducing me to other teachers. She helped me grow my own relationships. I replicate this kindness for new staff and in my library. I once created a huge paper tree, where students could leave notes of appreciation to staff on little apples, inspired by Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree."

This apple, written for me, is a reminder that small moments of visibility and gratitude can do so much for a person's life.