Emotional Support Pets Enrolled in Texas High School Courtesy of Second Chance

When Dixon and Mary Lou McNair of La Grange first introduced the rest of the family to Second Chance in December of 2022, I had no idea what was in store. During the short visit, I purchased two giant sock monkeys and one large stuffed dog, which I thought would add some levity to my high school classroom. Although my job as an English Teacher in the Houston area centers around helping teens write essays and understand reading pieces, I’m sometimes tasked with encouraging them to relax, so the real work of learning can occur.

Our campus is beautifully diverse. We serve students from a wide scope of ethnicities, some who have learning disabilities, and a significant percentage who have earned their first year of college coursework by excelling with Advanced Placement programs. We also teach students from homes that are financially secure, while some have suffered heart-breaking hardships in life.

The moment arrived; purse and lunch kit in hand with an armful of monkey limbs dangling behind me. Greeted with curious stares and awkward smiles, I hauled my treasures through the back doors of the building. I placed the trio in a wicker basket without saying a word about the new guests in Room B-129.

After a week or so, one of my brightest groups decided to name the male monkey “Truman,” the female “Margret,” and the dog “Bo.” As pixie dust filled the air, magic started to brew. Students began arriving to class early so they could be first to grab Margret, Truman, and Bo. They also borrowed the toys for half the day, the whole day, lunch periods … side excursions kept growing. Teens were taking selfies with what they called “emotional support pets,” and posting them to social media. This unexpected whimsy was going viral. Students I didn’t even know were coming by my room to borrow my furry friends. On occasion, one would go missing but somehow, all the support pets would make their way home the next day.

Today, things continue to evolve, and our emotional support pets are still popular on campus. Students have learned to laugh a little when life gets tough. Nine dollars spent at Second Chance has created a great deal of JOY for some kids that don’t have much in their homes.

December of 2023, we made another trek to Second Chance, and the saga continues. I found a few more stuffed cuties and added those to the classroom menagerie. Students haven’t named them yet, but we will see what happens in the future.

To Second Chance and their army of volunteers, I am grateful for your efforts to leave the world a little better than you found it. As for my little classroom in Texas, some unexpected finds on an ordinary Saturday in La Grange, Texas, have turned a light on in my little corner of the planet.