My Pocket Constitution

Five years ago, my AP government teacher gave every student a pocket size copy of the Constitution. While he was a very tough teacher (at least by high school standards), I absolutely loved his class and it inspired me to be a political science major. On the last day of AP Gov, we were supposed to turn in our Constitutions but he called me over and told me that I could keep mine because I've become quite the "constitutional scholar." It meant a lot coming from a teacher I respected so much.

I've kept that copy of the Constitution in my bag ever since. While American University handed out another copy for us, I stuck with my trusted little copy and now keep it in my backpack with my much heavier casebooks. I emailed that teacher the other day to tell him this story and he was so excited to hear I was in law school. He mentioned that he needed to order new pocket size Constitutions for this year's class and he'll attach my story as just the reason why they're important.

I have been known to pull random things out of my "mom bag," when people request it. And lo and behold, I was able to pull out a box of pocket Constitutions. No, it wasn't from my bag but rather they've been sitting in my house in Santa Clarita for the past two years. I got them when I was interning on the Hill because the office that I worked in had a surplus. I took them originally because I thought I might be able to use them for Bruin Democrats but going to a high school government class is a much better place for them.

My teacher emailed me back today thanking me for my donation to his class. I figured it was the least I could do for one of the people who helped me get to where I am today. And who knows, there might be another kid sitting there in class who falls absolutely in love with the Constitution, the government, and the law like I did.