Wednesday, March 25, 2009

My Backyard - Hutchinson Community College

Mary Martha Good talking to some Blue Dragons
The KTOY Team (minus a few members) visited Eileen Murphy's Introduction to Education class at Hutchinson Community College...only 8 miles from my high school! This class is made up of sophomores who will enter the teaching block next year at a 4 year university. This was a hard presentation for me. All I could think about was a previous student of mine who should have been sitting in the audience with them, taking the class to prepare for his future as a math teacher. His name was Clinton. He graduated from high school 2 years ago and died of colon cancer this past October. He enrolled at HCC but never got to attend classes as his energy and time was spent fighting this dreadful disease. If you have heard us speak, I usually talk about Clinton - he was such a great young man. So, when I looked out upon this very promising group of future educators, my heart broke a little again for Clinton. He should have been there. Life isn't fair.


But life does go on, fair or not. These students are the future of education...soon to be shaping lives, telling their own stories and inspiring their own students. I wish we could meet again in 4 years to hear those stories....maybe someday we will!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cindy, I know how much you cared for and loved Clinton. (And how much we all miss him!) I know he is so proud of what you are doing, and while he can never be a teacher in body, he is a teacher in spirit - through you. I am constantly amazed at the job you do.

-Sam Neill

Cindy Couchman said...

THANK YOU for this, Sam. You are right about Clinton...I will remember that when I talk about him. Hey- I am going to use a story about you at the KNEA convention Saturday...you are the epitome of being an advocate for students. You are my role model and I am going to tell one of your MANY stories.