I am student teaching and having a very positive experience.  My cooperating teacher is off for the day and says I don't have to come in because the entire class will be out on a class trip but I decide to come in anyway so I can go over lesson plans, organize and clean the classroom, etc.  I'm trying to think of ways to make myself essential, to ingratiate myself with the principal who doesn't even know my name.  He comes into the room as I am gathering my things to leave and gives me a paycheck, a bonus for a job well done.  Another student teacher is with him and she too gets a bonus check.  As he gives it to her he says something about how much he appreciates her giving him a lift because he wouldn't want to trust those shiftless people who stand around with their hands in their pockets.  I realize he's talking about the cab drivers who hover around outside of the building, the same people on whom I rely for my ability to get to and from work every day.  I think about how lucky this other student is because the principal obviously knows her and she is no more likely to get any open teaching position because of this opportunity to drive the principal to and from home, something I myself cannot do.  Then I think about how I did not know there would be a fiscal bonus involved in my new role and how delighted Rob will be when I come home with some extra cash.