Max

I went to high school in Kansas. At the time, it was the largest high school in the state. In the town I lived in, we had about 1,800 kids in my school. And, I graduated in a class of about 600. Yeah, needless to say, I had my little circle of friends of about 10 and outside of that I knew who people were, but I didn't know a lot of people in a close relationship.

The high school had a really cool staff of teachers. I'll be honest, there were a couple that put me to sleep, and some that made me not like the subject they were teaching, but overall, I was a happy person in high school. And, overall, I liked the teachers and staff.

While I was in school, I was a member of the Student Council. I didn't hold any sort of office other than, "Student Council Representative" but I was a part of the club and did the stuff that the council did. Our sponsor, Max, was a really neat guy. He was older, and retired the year after I graduated, but everyone liked Max and Max liked most of us. There were some on the council that I imagine he liked more than others, but that's true of all of us, I think.

Yesterday I made the trip home to my parent's house. It is Spring Break, and so I am playing the role of a bum this week. (Yippee skippee!)

The last time I saw Max was at my ten year reunion, which was held seven years ago. And, he remembered me then.

Today I was walking in the store I used to check groceries at when I was in college and I saw him. I hesitated at first because it looked like him, but I wasn't 100% sure it was him. And, as it turned out, it was him.

He recognized me, but he couldn't remember my name. That's okay though, with as many kids as there were that went through my school, I wouldn't remember all of us either. Especially now that we're grown up and don't look like the little high schoolers that we once were. I am still short, yes, but my hair and other features have changed a bit.

At any rate, it was neat to talk to him. He was happy I had become a teacher and wanted to know about my job and where I teach. It was really, really neat. I'll be the first to admit, he wasn't the main person that pushed me to be a teacher, but I remember really liking Max. He made us all laugh a lot.

I heard a quote once that said, "It doesn't matter how you teach the content, it's how you make the kids feel that makes a difference." I think about that quote a lot and try to make my kids feel special and important. I remember Max made me feel like that.

What a special thing.

I hope I leave my students with that feeling.

Seventeen years ago I graduated high school and today I was able to tell Max how much I appreciated him.

Makes me wonder who will be seeing me in seventeen years...

Kinda cool if you ask me...

Later!