Friday's conversation

Called Abel on Friday.  He has just finished two and a half years at UC Berkeley, and I couldn't be prouder.  Was just checking in, no specific purpose.  He was currently on break at work, working as an academic counselor with a local high school.

A VERY BRIEF background: Abel was one of my first students.  I can still see him in my mind on the first day of his freshman year in high school (my first official year teaching).  I knew IMMEDIATELY that he was special and that I would be working hard, everyday, to make sure his needs were met, that I was constantly pushing him, that he was never bored. By the end of his Junior year, Abel was more like a little brother.  We are so close that I drove him up to UC Berkeley and moved him in. I can still remember driving away with tears (pride and sadness, I would miss seeing him everyday), seeing him and Katherine (the female student who became my little sister) in the rearview mirror.  As a freshman in high school, Abel wanted to be an Engineer, and I was determined to make sure he fulfilled that dream; I even took him to an MIT informational.  He is now an Environmental Science major planning on becoming a teacher - my two passions.  He constantly tells me I am his inspiration; ironically, I remind him that he is mine.

Our conversation on Friday was nice.  I've moved from his teacher, to counselor, to life mentor, and now teacher mentor. He needed advice on how to help and work with a particular student.  What a moment...I am teaching my former student how to be a teacher.

When I met Abel six and a half years ago, I simply hoped I would effectively prepare him for the next steps in his educational career, ensuring he grew as an independent learner.  I did not expect him to become like a younger brother; I did not expect him to ever honor me with the title of "mentor and inspiration"; I never imagined he would ask me to drive him to his first day at the university; nor could I have possibly conceived that he would follow in my footsteps.  What I do know is that we'll be critical in each other's lives indefinitely. How lucky I am to have experienced this gift.