This isnt for anyone, this is really for me.... I feel like writing. So welcome into my mind!
Looking over the past 10 years, I have spent thousands of hours in the classroom. Looking back at myself when I hit 20, I remember going to church and having an encounter with God. Now, don't be offended if you are reading this and we don't share the same beliefs. You have to understand my journey.... before you write me off. I was in Elyria, OH, at Second Baptist Church that Sunday. I remember the day, I went to both services. I NEVER went to 8 & 11. In my head, that was 1 too many services that day. But I needed to hear them. I was so grateful to see 20 years that day. I was in the midst of a huge change. I told myself I will try and praise and worship like never before. I wore a suit that day. I typically shied away from suits in church because I got so DARN HOT. I had just about made up my mind that I wanted career change. I was ready to shift from Engineering to Education. I was going to change the world. But first, God has to change my world.
I was rocked that day; I was floored, and I was in tune with my purpose. That day some folks prayed over my life, and stoked a fire for life. I remember throwing away a lot of things that I held as idols in my life that day. I remember throwing away a 100+ cds that promoted things I wasn't even affiliated with, nor ever wanted to be. I started stocking my collection with other music, sermons, inspirational messages, and determined to do alil more with life. TEACH.
So I've spent thousands of days in each of the next 10 years in the classroom. The next couple years from that day were spent as a student. Then as a student teacher, then as a teacher. And let me tell you, I've met some of the greatest kids in the world. I've been blessed watching them grow. They are maturing. Some of my first students are headed to med school, nursing school, seminary, and even from FL to OH! (Shout out to @dayanabanana if you read this). They have bachelor's, master's, and certifications that are propelling them into the future. I don't even have to words to describe "My Lazy Trig Kids." Teaching has been RUINED by this class. They have set the bar so high for AMAZING students. Every class after that I wish were just a little more like them. I see them all doing amazing things. Some of them have already traveled to countries, studying abroad, and EVEN GETTING ENGAGED AND MARRIED. One of my faves just got accepted into one of the top nursing programs in the nation. Michele Obama said so the other day too!! She is an amazing young lady, who sadly laid her mother to rest a few months ago. Talk about strong. Wrapping up college, while working & fighting through various hardships. Another is graduating this May from UF. What a proud day that is gonna be for her parents and younger brothers. She sets an amazing example for them. They even sent me an invitation! I get to share a small piece of their lives. They inspire me to keep doing it. Their parents send me friend requests on Facebook, and then send me messages thanking me for being a positive influence in their lives. While most of my students despise math, I have 3 who are studying to be high school math teachers. Maybe they ACTUALLY liked me.
This is my life!
At 20, I was willingly single, and happy about it. I had learned a lot from my last breakup, and I was learning even more regarding relationships as I was developing a good "ear" to listen to my friends relationship issues. I dont regret that relationship at all, and I actually learned a whole lot from her/us. But for the next couple years, I was just learning about me. I was tutoring one of my best friends, in Math, who is now out in California, several weeks away from completing her dissertation. In hindsight, she was one of my first students! Those hours we spend in WRAY were great! Dont hold it against me too much, I was just learning the art of teaching!
It's different to go from Hoover 232 in Athens, OH to Garland, TX (after a pit-stop in Palm harbor & St. Pete, FL) 10 years later.
This might be the most awesome 10 year reunion OF MY THOUGHTS ever... all random thoughts. I'm gonna reflect on some awesome students that have either walked through Osceola High School's 2nd Floor halls, out to my portable, or into Portable 3 at Seminole High School.
One of my favorite stories is a girl named Trig. Man, she was a cool student. Smart and athletic. But she fell off and started skipping classes. Not just any class, but my class. So I had to pull her card and borrow her friends cell phone and call her when she was skipping my class. (I don't do this normally, but for this one student, I had to.) Made her walk out to my classroom. And I was furious. I was ready to lay into her, and chew her out, but she was already hurt. It annoyed me not that a student would skip my class, but more so that a good kid, one I went out of my way for to help. It seemed that she was thinking about what I was going to bark at her, on the whole walk to my class, from my friend's class. I honestly couldn't say what I wanted to. In my head, I thought "What the heck is going on kid? You're THIS close to wrapping up your senior year of high school and now you are tanking it. ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?! But honestly, I don't even remember what I said. All I know is she walked away while I was still talking. And I was yelling some stuff about "Oh for real? Just walking away in the middle of the convo?" That made me even HOTTER..... I was about done with her.
So I did what I always did. I starting writing a letter. I wrote them to my students because sometimes when you read, your brain processes words and the synapses from your eyes registers send messages to your brain that invoke emotions and feelings that sometimes the human ear bypasses if your mind starts to wander while you are trying to listen (happens to me alot, so I googled it!!). Anyways she responded, apologized and got it together. She is an amazing story. And the story is just beginning to unfold. She is living and learning and growing daily. It's a little nuts how much people can mature once they are beyond high school. She is a poster child for never giving up, and change. And she is walking it out by FAITH.
Hey kid, (I know you're gonna read this) I'm proud of you. I'm proud of the path you're on, and I am proud of the decisions you have made, especially the tough ones. I am proud of the lessons your are learning, and what you are taking away from life. I will continue to encourage you daily, k?
I'm pumped for J.C. I told her in high school she had the best initials ever. She is engaged too, and ready to hit the classroom as a teacher too. Man, she was cool. Her mom was too.... its funny how I get to meet so many of my students parents, and when I see them they are always ready to hug me!! She is an excellent example of a lady! She even taps me for advice sometimes. That's when you know people value you, when the look to you.
I'm pretty thrilled for what Char is gonna do. She is graduating soon, and will have a lot of credit hours for college already. She is funny, because even when she wasn't my student she would KEEP COMING BACK to my class, and do homework and work. 18 years old and will more than likely get her H.S. diploma and her A.A. Future is as bright as ever.
My buddy M.B. is a success story already. She lost her mother a while ago, and has been grinding ever since. It hasn't stopped her. I swear one day I'm gonna see her do something great. She's pretty mature for her age, and she has the mind to shift everything around her to make it amazing.
There are many more.... and let me tell you, the stories, jokes, and things that come out of student's mouths these days are astounding. I try to hold on to the positive
It's crazy to me that over the past 10 years, I formed relationships with more than 1,000 students. The older ones (2 in particular) comment on pics of my daughter on-line because they got to hold her when she was a month old, or when I compared her to the size of a deli sandwich from the Market. Of the two, one is now a fitness buff. She is a beast. She still looks like the girl I had in class, but now she is stronger and tougher (mentally and especially physically). She still says my name the names and it makes me laugh. She's an adult and calls me Mr. Ham! Nowadays, she doesn't make excuses anymore.
And apparently, the other one is a "DANCER" and a JEWELER, while in school? Where was this hidden talent? Where did this come from? But on top of that, she is the sweetest girl I've ever had in class. Definitely catch her at Starbucks when I am in town. Actually, both of them love them some Starbucks!! Remember studying for your college math class at Starbucks??
I got to hear a student preach a sermon in church one Sunday. He had me and my wife stand up first, and called me an inspiration, then preached the roof off that joint!
We used to get together sometimes before school and talk about the goodness of God. Crazy?!?!
Another favorite (Whom I never had in class) is now married, to a soldier. Has said goodbye before while he serves his country. My hat is off to both of you. It's always weird when someone's last name changes. She made me a poster that still makes me smile when I see it!
I'm glad for sites like Facebook and Twitter. It's always fun to know what next step your former students are taking. So any former students reading this...... I better get a text/email/reply/FB message about what's going on! Like I told you in class, "There is greatness on the inside of you."
These past 10 years have been great. But yet there is still a hunger for more. Like, I am STARVING for what is next. I'm not sure if I have a lot more time in the classroom. But I have plenty of more years of teaching left in me.
There are so many stories..... I have more to come. Stay tuned for the next 10 years.
