Tuesday I sat in the school. Waiting for my kids to arrive on a bench in the hallway. The hall was empty as I had gotten there early. Suddenly a boy came around the corner, but he wasn't a student. He was older. He paused, smiled, walked over and shook my hand. "Hey, you're still running the after school program?" He said. "Yep! Wow, what grade are you in now?" I asked. "I'm graduating in a few weeks. Doing my senior internship helping out in Mrs. Johnson's class. Are you still doing sports and stuff?' He asked. I explained that I was and have been since he was in the school. He laughed and said "I remember sports in first and second grade and also the hockey class." I paused, "Jeffrey, right?' "Wow! Yeah." Said, seemingly shocked that I remembered. He then said he had to run.
Jeffrey was one of my first and favorite kids. He was a complete goofball as a kid. He was part kid, part monkey and part clown. He would climb on stuff, crack jokes and occasionally put his legs behind his head and walk around on his hands and ass. He was a great kid. I would never forget a kid like that. It's why I do this. That being said, for a child who hasn't seen my in over seven years and one who wasn't in my classes for over ten to remember me. Well that made my year. It's why I do what I do.
When I got sick, I asked two friends about my medication. One is a nurse I worked with. One is in Israel for med school and he was a camper of mine about 15 years ago. Earlier this year I had two brothers come by to say hello at the school. They commented on how great the classes were. It's moments like that which make my life a little better. A lot better.
I may never see Jeffrey again, but knowing that I made a difference in his younger years and that I had enough of an impact for him to remember me, really touched me. Here's a kid, in his final year of high school. A million thoughts and emotions running through his head and he stopped and said hello. I might not ever be rich from doing this, but you truly can't put a price on what happened the other day. I wouldn't trade it for any amount of money.
Jeffrey was one of my first and favorite kids. He was a complete goofball as a kid. He was part kid, part monkey and part clown. He would climb on stuff, crack jokes and occasionally put his legs behind his head and walk around on his hands and ass. He was a great kid. I would never forget a kid like that. It's why I do this. That being said, for a child who hasn't seen my in over seven years and one who wasn't in my classes for over ten to remember me. Well that made my year. It's why I do what I do.
When I got sick, I asked two friends about my medication. One is a nurse I worked with. One is in Israel for med school and he was a camper of mine about 15 years ago. Earlier this year I had two brothers come by to say hello at the school. They commented on how great the classes were. It's moments like that which make my life a little better. A lot better.
I may never see Jeffrey again, but knowing that I made a difference in his younger years and that I had enough of an impact for him to remember me, really touched me. Here's a kid, in his final year of high school. A million thoughts and emotions running through his head and he stopped and said hello. I might not ever be rich from doing this, but you truly can't put a price on what happened the other day. I wouldn't trade it for any amount of money.
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