It’s January and the flu season is in full swing. We’re discouraged from shaking hands or joining hands at church services. But here at the L. Community Center after-school program, Yonas spent most of the afternoon sneezing and coughing on me and on all of the various papers and pencils we were using to work on his math.

I try so hard not to touch my own eyes or nose after being near him.

I like Yonas a lot, but it’s just so difficult to warm up to someone who’s a walking germ factory. This leads me to wonder how I will deal with the occasional students in my own classroom who are just, for whatever reason, difficult to like. Each time I come to the Lincolnia Center, I choose who I want to spend time with, and tend to avoid the kids I don’t have a soft spot for. I’m not so sure this is a good idea. I know I’d learn more if I found ways to work with the kids who are stand-offish or not as appealing.