Reenergizing semi-teaching moment

There have been a few times where I am touched by a former student who shares something in how I impacted their life while or after I was their teacher or coach.

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It's rare that really great things are said to me on Facebook.  But this was an exception.

The other evening, I saw an FB email from an awesome former student who is already a great adult.  He says profound things and always knows how to make people laugh about some memory or about a song that he thought of that relates to something in life.

His email word-for-word (though I changed names):

I bumped into Tony last night and we got to catch up.  He's got a job and is a youth pastor for lack of a better term.  He wants to be a counselor eventually.  Anyway, this condo went down: 

He said -- I just wanna help out in the community and be a guide the way people were for me.  Harp was the dude that just held me down.  I wanna be there and guide somebody in the same way. 

Me -- Miss Awesome was my homie. 

Tony -- Yeah, she was our ace boon.  And Ms A.eye.  Maaaan Ms A.eye.  She was real as shit.  Her and Awesome were the best things that was goin in that district, real talk. 

Me -- I'll ride with them.  Straight regulators style.  MOUNT UP. 

Long story short, your influence is ongoing and you still have a strong rep in the streets.  Thought you might like to know.  I only wish you could've seen the conviction and emotion on Tony's face when he said that.  He MEANT it.  Big time.  Truer words haven't been spoken.

These guys are so great!

I knew they were great when I had them in school, but seeing them continue to do great things in adulthood is really awesome!!  I wish them both (and all my former students!) the best in all that they strive to do... hopefully it all ends positively for them.

Of course I saved that email and took a screen shot of it on my phone so I can look back on it during days of teaching when I may not feel like I'm making an impact on students.