Passions

A few weeks ago I told of the experiences my BER program manager Annie had as a Fulbright teacher in Germany. She taught at a middle school for students who had been deemed "non-college bound" IN FOURTH GRADE. Another example of how very wrong that is just happened.

I first met David N. on our David's first day of first grade. David N's family lives around the corner and our families' lives inter-twined throughout the boys' school days, especially after David N's mom provided before and after school care for our boys when I went back to teaching. A kinder family could not be found!

Several years later David N. ended up in my Spanish class. David worked very hard, but found Spanish difficult. He struggled in some other classes as well. In Germany he might have been assigned to Annie's school. Instead he found his niche in high school and went on to study business in college, with the goal of opening his own landscaping business.

Today David N. met with us to discuss solutions to many lawn and garden problems. He talked with great expertiece about herbicides, pesticides, insecticides and all sorts of other "cides". He quoted studies. He estimated. He positively glowed.

Like so many other boys who aren't so sure about themselves in middle school, David N. found something he truly loves to do and, once that passion was identified, worked and studied to become a master at it. Since he knows us well, David N. and Ken talked quite a bit about the perils of owning your own business. I can't believe that the no-so-confident former 8th grader now talks about buying machines that can cost up to $60,000! We've seen the results of David N's work in friends' yards and were truly impressed. We're even more impressed with the confidence and joy he clearly demonstrates.

As middle school teachers we see many kids at their absolute worst: hormonally challenged, non-motivated, lacking common sense, and un-willing or unable to perform academically. Some of them we later read about in the police blotter, but many do turn out like David N. They find their passion and then everything else falls into place.

Maybe future middle school teachers should be required to be parents first, observing both their own children and their children's friends go through all the stages and become adults, before being allowed to teach....and especially before being allowed to pass judgment on any kid!

Now we're off to see another former middle school student who found his passion and is "busting his buns" to succeed in it. Wonder if Kevin's middle school teachers ever envisioned him playing in Orchestra Hall? I hope they did see that potential....and that they see it in the many other boys who are still looking for their passion.