One of the joys of inching towards 30 years in education is the opportunity to see the fruits of your labor in a variety of ways. Recently, I had the chance to reconnect with a former student and it caused me to reflect on how you get to see your students come full circle sometimes. Luckily for me, I have stayed in the same geographical region for most of my teaching career. Thus, I’ve been fortunate enough to keep connected to many former students over the years whether it be in person or via social media.
If you know anything about me, it is the fact that I always bleed Tar Heel blue from my alma mater, especially during basketball season. Some have even tabbed it “Brian Blue” since I can be seen in that color so often! While visiting family in North Carolina in April, I went over to Chapel Hill to meet a former student for lunch. Brandon Robinson, just finishing his sophomore year at UNC, was kind enough to take time from his schedule to meet with me for lunch. I had the fortune of teaching Brandon and his brother at Mountain View Elementary back in the day. My “work wife” at Mountain View, Nancy Janas, told me on my first day there that Brandon was special and had some basketball talent. I guess she should be a scout because Brandon’s talent, hard work, and perseverance turned him into a Division 1 player. We would tease him about UNC daily as his goal at the time was to play at Georgia Tech!
As I waited outside Sutton’s Drug Store, I did start to get a little nervous for some reason. We only communicated off and on over the years so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But my tensions eased when I realized now we were both part of the Carolina Family. My thoughts were interrupted by Brandon jumping out of a car and bounding towards me. The last time we saw each other in person, he was in middle school and just a shade taller than me. Now, here comes this towering “kid” just as excited as I was to reconnect. For the next hour eating lunch, time stood still.
We talked about everything. First and foremost, we caught up on his wonderful family who should be so proud of the person they molded him into growing up. I was delighted to hear that they get the chance to see him play so often and how connected he is with them. I saw their influence, and hopefully some of all his teachers, as he addressed everyone with a “ma’am” or “sir” and had impeccable etiquette. I’m sure it would be easy to get caught up in the “big time” of collegiate athletics, but this young man was just like the one who left Mountain View years ago.
There were so many questions I had for him as we ate. At length, we discussed things like the toughest place to play, his biggest adjustment from high school both on the court and academically, the Tar Heel basketball family, Final Four experiences, and so much more. Brandon’s answers were thoughtful, concise, and riveting. More than anything, he was so grateful for the opportunity that academics and basketball provided him to travel the world and do what he enjoys. In turn, Brandon inquired about me and my life happenings, Mrs. Janas, and the new Mountain View school building. As we concluded our lunch and discussion, I let him know how proud I was of him and all his life accomplishments thus far. We left lunch and headed our own ways afterward but are always connected as a teacher-student and now part of the Carolina Family. As I sauntered down Franklin Street, I reflected upon the experience and how incredible it is as a teacher to see your students grow up.
The biggest message I can share with you is to take advantage of the relationships you build with students and continue as ‘their’ teacher for life when the opportunity presents itself. I’ve been fortunate enough to remain connected with past students in many outstanding ways. Some help watch after my son away at college, others simply remind me of times in the classroom. I’ve even taught some of their children on occasion! The connections are not always great. Some were arrested for various offenses or found their way into unfortunate circumstances. Each of those leaves me with a little pain or guilt wondering “could I have done more?” Even those were students who I managed to build a positive relationship with in the classroom. As we all prepare for summer vacation this year, plan to connect with a former student and become ‘their’ teacher again. You might just have the chance to see things come full circle like I did.