As was mentioned in my last post, a dear childhood friend of mine
passed away recently. He was a remarkable teacher with a fabulous reputation
and many teaching awards and recognition granted to him. His life was devoted
to teaching and building children up, helping them to love themselves, teaching them to work
hard and live good lives. He was loved and
respected by many, and he deserves that love and respect.
I got on one of Jason's blogs this morning and ended up
reading an old writing he posted on Jan 23, 2008. This post very much shows the
kind of teacher and person that he is. I am not crying at the moment, but part
of me wishes to. I ache instead over the tragic loss of him. I know I already
wrote and posted a tribute to him (The Measure of a Great Man), but I would like to pay another small
tribute to him again by showing you a few of the thoughts of this good
man's heart and of the legacy he left behind as a teacher and builder of so many children. He built them up. He encouraged them
to work hard. He taught and inspired them to be good.
I will offer the link within the title of the text he wrote,
but also desire to copy
and paste it here as
well. For any who may
wonder what kind of man he is, I think this post will give you a
small glimpse of what a truly good person he is - as ALL who know him readily agree...
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Stars
I had a friend who needed to cancel our evening plans,
which led me to stay at work a little bit later than usual tonight. As I entered
grades, visited with a few other teachers, organized the room, and began to get
ready for the next day’s teaching, my classroom door swung open. Standing there
was a student I hadn’t seen for quite a long time…I’ll call this boy, ‘Joey.’
As Joey strode into the room I found myself surprised to see him, especially so late in the evening. How had he gotten into the school? Why was he here? Joey walked straight up to me and threw out his arms, embracing me in a bear-type hug. It was then that he began to talk. I couldn’t believe just how big this boy had become since he’d been a chubby little fourth grader in my classroom some six years before. He’d become a fine young man, now in his second year of high school.
Joey talked, expressing several times just how much he loved being in my class as a 4th grader. He reminisced about the voices I’d used for read-aloud, the assignments he’d had fun with, and just how much the room had stayed the same…though it was just a little bit smaller than he remembered. His face grew somber as he turned and looked me in the eyes. He began to thank me for the countless hours I’d spent on him; hours of working on assignments as well as tutoring him with reading.
He took a deep breath and then said, “I wanted to tell you something else…I wanted to let you know that I’m a good kid. I’m not perfect and I’ve done some stupid things in my life, but when I started to drive to the school tonight to visit you, I thought about how proud I was of the fact that I am a good kid, and I wanted you to know that. I’m not trying to toot my own horn or anything like that, and I hope you don’t think I’m being prideful, but I’m not doing drugs, I’ve got a lot of good friends, and I’m nice to people. I’m proud of myself and I wanted to let you know that, too, because, it was you who really made me the person I am today. I can remember all of the long hours you worked with me and helped me to love school. The things you taught me about being a good person. Well, I just wanted to thank you for that.”
It wasn't long before Joey’s cell phone rang…it was his mom. He needed to be home for dinner soon. I walked him out of the school; before he got into his car he gave me another hug, once-again expressing his gratitude. As I watched the taillights of Joey’s rover vanish into the darkness, I climbed into my own car and made the trip home over the icy streets of town, my head a flood of reflection. I had thought about Joey—on numerous occasions. He’s the type of student that teachers often think about…wondering: Was all the time I spent on him wasted?
I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me as I drove home; thankfulness for the time I’d chosen to spend on this particular child who had struggled with education for so many years. It was this same boy, now sixteen, who helped me to realize that the time we invest in others, though it may tax us to our very limits, can make the biggest difference. This time we spend is NEVER wasted.
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
“Son,” the man said, “Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach, and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”
This is exactly how Jason lived his life. He spent it, making a difference in as many lives as he possibly could, no matter how impossible it may have seemed to others, and even when others may have looked at his recipients as just a number... The beauty about Jason is that in his eyes, no one is just a number! Many people will greet him on the other side and thank him for reaching out to them and helping them to be so much more than they ever thought possible. I know I will! :) I think I'll write a small note to Jason, from me and all the other stars that he threw into the ocean as he struggled through his own life.
Dear Jason,
Thank you so much for reaching out and building up so many! Thank you for LOVING so unconditionally! And thank you for doing the impossible, and throwing us into the ocean, even though the task may have seemed impossible!
God be with you, till we meet again!
Your friends on earth and through eternity...
As Joey strode into the room I found myself surprised to see him, especially so late in the evening. How had he gotten into the school? Why was he here? Joey walked straight up to me and threw out his arms, embracing me in a bear-type hug. It was then that he began to talk. I couldn’t believe just how big this boy had become since he’d been a chubby little fourth grader in my classroom some six years before. He’d become a fine young man, now in his second year of high school.
Joey talked, expressing several times just how much he loved being in my class as a 4th grader. He reminisced about the voices I’d used for read-aloud, the assignments he’d had fun with, and just how much the room had stayed the same…though it was just a little bit smaller than he remembered. His face grew somber as he turned and looked me in the eyes. He began to thank me for the countless hours I’d spent on him; hours of working on assignments as well as tutoring him with reading.
He took a deep breath and then said, “I wanted to tell you something else…I wanted to let you know that I’m a good kid. I’m not perfect and I’ve done some stupid things in my life, but when I started to drive to the school tonight to visit you, I thought about how proud I was of the fact that I am a good kid, and I wanted you to know that. I’m not trying to toot my own horn or anything like that, and I hope you don’t think I’m being prideful, but I’m not doing drugs, I’ve got a lot of good friends, and I’m nice to people. I’m proud of myself and I wanted to let you know that, too, because, it was you who really made me the person I am today. I can remember all of the long hours you worked with me and helped me to love school. The things you taught me about being a good person. Well, I just wanted to thank you for that.”
It wasn't long before Joey’s cell phone rang…it was his mom. He needed to be home for dinner soon. I walked him out of the school; before he got into his car he gave me another hug, once-again expressing his gratitude. As I watched the taillights of Joey’s rover vanish into the darkness, I climbed into my own car and made the trip home over the icy streets of town, my head a flood of reflection. I had thought about Joey—on numerous occasions. He’s the type of student that teachers often think about…wondering: Was all the time I spent on him wasted?
I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me as I drove home; thankfulness for the time I’d chosen to spend on this particular child who had struggled with education for so many years. It was this same boy, now sixteen, who helped me to realize that the time we invest in others, though it may tax us to our very limits, can make the biggest difference. This time we spend is NEVER wasted.
In the words of Loren Eisley:
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll
die.”
“Son,” the man said, “Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach, and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”
This is exactly how Jason lived his life. He spent it, making a difference in as many lives as he possibly could, no matter how impossible it may have seemed to others, and even when others may have looked at his recipients as just a number... The beauty about Jason is that in his eyes, no one is just a number! Many people will greet him on the other side and thank him for reaching out to them and helping them to be so much more than they ever thought possible. I know I will! :) I think I'll write a small note to Jason, from me and all the other stars that he threw into the ocean as he struggled through his own life.
Dear Jason,
Thank you so much for reaching out and building up so many! Thank you for LOVING so unconditionally! And thank you for doing the impossible, and throwing us into the ocean, even though the task may have seemed impossible!
God be with you, till we meet again!
Your friends on earth and through eternity...
I'm sorry you lost someone so special to you. I have seen news articles about him and have thought how terribly that would affect someone who was innocent of what he is accused of. I can't imagine how difficult it is to go through something like that. I hope you are able to feel peace and comfort during your camping trip with your family.
ReplyDeleteHe sounds like a wonderful person. I'm so sorry you have lost such a friend as he was to you. I hope that you will find comfort in the days ahead as well as his family. {hugs}
ReplyDeleteJason and I emailed each other whenever a post struck us... I remember one post where he did not come out directly and say it but I knew the underlying point... He asked if I could tell that what he had tried to disguise the subject of a student who had commited suicide.. I told him in an email that I could tell by his writing.. After that, he pulled the post because he wanted to keep the anonynimity of the person... Until I came across your post, I had no idea Jason suffered from depression.. Call me naive, after all depression runs in my family.. All I saw was a man who was so talented and loved his students.. As in the guestbook, I will always remember him and wished I had been able to purchase more of his photos. He was the only person in blogland who reached out to others and really was a genuine person.. he stood by his word and had an open heart.
ReplyDelete