Yes, I'm sure there are too many to count, but what is one of the biggest things one of your former students has gone on to do?
Staying out of jail I ran into a former student of mine at the grocery store parking lot last week. This guy was released in around December, he was in my classes until then. He earned his GED, and was generally a quiet, mature and good student. However, statistics show that 75 % of them will be locked up again, especially since by the time we get them at that school, they have become "repeat offenders and / or committed serious or violent crimes". Yes, it's been 7 months and he managed to stay out. It was so nice to see him and chat with him for a few minutes, it really warmed my heart. I'm sure he was pleasantly surprised that after he said my name I walked up to him, recognized and gave him a hug and took the time to talk to him. He probably didn't expect that.
One of my former grade 8 students has really turned himself around. When he was in grade 7 and 8, he was involved in a lot of stuff--drinking, experimenting with drugs, s*x and was very confrontational with most adults. He's just finished grade 11 and is, in his words, "doing really well now". He's passing all his classes, has a steady (2 years) girlfriend, and has stopped drinking and drugs. He'll graduate and is planning to go into the Armed Forces. I'm so proud of him!
I haven't been teaching at normal school enough to have many kids graduate. But, the summer program where I've worked since 2000 has had several kids go onto great things: PhDs from top universities, writing and acting on popular television shows, working as an NBA executive, etc. I can't really claim them as students, though many of them do keep in touch.
I have taught an author (now), an architect (now), doctors(now), a musician (now) playing with a famous band no less, a state representative (now) etc. With the social networking we have now, the "kids" have found me. I am in my early 40s, so I would have to say that I am really blessed to have touched the lives of so many kids. A few of these guys were bright stars when I taught them. Most were average, hard working students and ONE of them (Can you guess which?) I actually had to retain because he could not read. I finally had him tested (act of congress!) and got him help with a severe learning disability. You might be saying, "Oh heavens, he was retained and STILL made a name for himself in life." I guess miracles happen!
He wasn't a student of mine but I coached him in basketball while he was in 7th grade. Actually, his brother Alonzo WAS in my 12th grade government class, but MATTHEW HATCHETTE was a TERRIBLE basketball player! hahahahahahah At least when I coached him. It was in my first (and only) year teaching at a school in Ashtabula County (Jefferson Area Local Schools). Black family with a single mom who was funny as hell. I went to their house for Alonzo's graduation party and Matthew was, like I said, just a kid. Anyway, here's the "Twilight Zone" thing about this! I've been a HUGE fan of the Minnesota Vikings since I was 10. So in the late 90's I was watching the Vikings and kept seeing this guy on special teams, #89 with the last name "Hatchette" on the jersey. Then I heard the announcers say his first name "Matthew." I thought "No way!" So I wrote to the Vikings in care of Matthew Hatchette. Few weeks later I get this Christmas Card from HIM! Same guy! I still have it. He said, "What's up coach? Remember when I averaged 25 points a game for you?" hahahahahahah Hell, he couldn't hit the bass drum on a bull's a&& with a basketball, but in looking into his past after I left there he became one hell of a football player, obviously. That was cool! I remember the next season I think it was he got into a fight with the Cowboy's Dion Sanders. I guess that shows you how terrible of a basketball coach I was! hahahahahahhaha He had a decent career and is now into acting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Hatchette http://images.google.com/imgres?q=m...w=212&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:81 http://images.google.com/imgres?q=m...197&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0,i:107
My kids from my first year are going into 10th grade, so they haven't done much. I do have one who's goal is to be competing in Rio in 2016. She has already came in 2nd place in a National Championship
Personally, I am most pleased that two of my students from the same graduating year were hired as English teachers in my old school. Too bad I left and didn't get to work with them. Another student from the same class is playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers right now. Not a big fan of professional sports, but I have to admit it's pretty cool.
Escape the inner city. At least one of my former students got out of the drug, gang and crime infested neighborhood I taught in and i currently a student a a highly competitive state university on a full academic scholarship.
I got a college graduation invitation from one of my extreme poverty kids. He included a note in his invitation that I was the first person to tell him he was smart enough to go to college, and encouraged him to try. He also said his mother never believed in him and actually tried to keep him from succeeding and didn't want to invite her, but was since he knew I would not approve of leaving his mother out of the celebration. He now is living in his own home with his wife and very young children.
My first class (that I only had from Feb-Jun) just graduated from elementary school, so not much to report yet. Some of them did get into some of the better middle schools in the area though (they have to apply to middle school or go to their zoned school which is kind of crappy).
When I taught at KU I had students in my course that are now in the NBA. I have HS students that have pursued top-notch careers.
Our school has the son of a famous mass murder who was executed by the state a few years ago. That count?
