We all know that I am a teacher right - actually I am an elementary school Principal now but once a teacher, always a teacher, no matter what your role.
In 2000, I left a corporate HR job in Toronto to move back to London to be a French/Phys-ed teacher at a school called Sir John A MacDonald PS. I had no idea what I was doing but had a great admin team and colleagues to help me survive that first year.
In 2001, I was asked to teach grade 7. I once again had no idea what I was doing but really tried hard to focus on the kids and what they needed. I spent a lot of time teaching French and Phys-ed since I knew how to do that and had my dad come a couple of times to do art lessons but the rest, I kind of sucked at. It was an interesting year as 911 happened, the winter Olympics and a great deal of changes were happening at the school and in the community. I had a tough but awesome group of students who pretty well ended up teaching me more than I taught them.
In January 2002, I had my class do an activity called the "10 Year Letter". I had them write a letter to themselves that I would collect, keep, and then mail to them in the year 2012. I had no idea if it would work or not but the kids did their best thinking about what they might be doing in 10 years. I collected the letters and placed them safely in my basement where they remain to this day - a little covered in dust from our basement reno but still sealed and intact.
Well, guess what? It has been 10 years so I must mail out the letters to the kids. I went to my basement and retrieved the letters and was worried that the students might have moved and the letters would get lost in the mail. So, I spent a great deal of time on the Internet, Twitter, and Facebook to track them down to ask for an updated address so I could send them their letters. I got some wonderful responses and comments made about their memories of grade 7, our class, and me.
One letter stood out though.
It was written by a student in my class named Damian Warner. He was the sweetest most quiet student I had ever taught. He also was exceptionally athletic and won all the events at our annual track and field days plus came from a wonderful family.
The reason why this letter stood out was because he had just recently returned from the summer Olympics in London. Not as a spectator but as a competitor. He had finished 5th in the decathlon and become a champion to all of Canada. I could not believe that I had his letter and this was the year to send it to him.
Damian and our class celebrating the 2002 Winter Olympics - prediction or what!! |
You will not believe what it said....
Notice how tall he is now compared to the class photo where I am a foot taller than him. |
Not often do you get to see your students and how they are doing 10+ years later. Watching him at the Olympics this summer and cheering him on in the decathlon was extra special. I am so happy that a little silly lesson I did with that class so long ago could bring some joy to him and his family. It sure makes my week.
Follow Damian and his journey to the 2016 Olympics and on Twitter @DamianWarner - he is one special guy.