There is nothing like the look a student gives when you touch them beyond a test score. The eye contact that confirms their true belief in your words. I’m blessed to have that feeling come very often. The look is a sign of trust and a sign that we’re locked in. If I fail my students they stand a good chance of never being connected with me again. They are another reason for me to succeed!

Well it’s New Year’s Eve and I’m grateful for the past year.  I met some amazing people, seen some amazing things and helped some deserving children.  Yesterday, I spent some time goose hunting with two of my camp students and my son in Maryland.  I wanted to show everyone how much my son has grown.  He has become a great asset to me in my efforts to help others.  This year’s resolution is to listen to him a little more and to continue watching him grow.   

and one other thing……… (stay tuned)

From our family to yours,

We hope your holidays are filled with joy, happiness and safety.  We also hope the crossover into 2012 brings your dreams to you!

I never underestimate the power of my students, so imagine my surprise when I was given my very own app for the Iphone.  I never, ever thought that  was possible or that I would have been thought of in that manner.  Well, the App has a few features and is a prototype .  It is very meaningful from more than the communication standpoint.  If you have an Iphone you can download the free app HERE.

It seems that many people have taken the stance “I could always do less.”  I can’t say that I haven’t thought about it myself at times.  Then something usually brings me back to reality and I begin ramping up to do more than what is called for.  I was raised that way.  It’s so nice to see that there are children that want more out of their life than their current circumstances.  In 2012 watch for your chance to do more with and beside me.   Time to “pull the trigger!”

We buried Uncle Willie Razor today.  He was a man who took the time to let me tag along on outdoor trips when I was a kid.  I guess you could say he let me get a taste of this outdoor stuff;  in an adopted  sort of way.  He was with me when I flushed my first pheasant.  That loud cackle nearly gave me  a heart attack and the single shot 12 gauge that was loaned to me nearly broke my shoulder.  I don’t regret a thing about any day I spent with him.  The memories are as vivd as a color television.  I’m know the expereiences he gave to me helped mold me into the man I am today.  I’ve got a great story that I will share in the coming months in my seminars that just happened to my son on our latest deer hunt.  For some reason, I think Uncle Wille had something to do with it.  I will tell the story to his son Mark before anyone else.  He deserves to hear it and reflect on what his daddy meant to me.  Thanks for sharing your dad with me  Mark and rest easy Uncle.

ps I can still hear him laugh and say “you missed that bird by a long mile, can’t get you a bigger gun cause you won’t have no teeth left.”

Seems like time is touching me a little more than I thought.  Calls from former students that have children of their own.  Friends that continue to say remember when and a boy of my own that I used to hold in my arms.  Seems like time is making me appreciate what it has given to me.  I still have a lot to do and  forgive me if I do it at my own pace.  I will continue to spend the hours, minutes and seconds making  sure I don’t waste any of those precious days I’m blessed to have left.

It’s not everyday that I get a thank you.  You could imagine my surprise when I found a special thank you at my academy.  To get that kind of love from a company is very humbling.  I’m glad to become a member of the Bowtech family and I’m sure my students will want to follow the results I plan to have with it.    Far cry from the yarn and sticks I started with!

 

Starting to work on the new youth  endowment campaign that may alter our underserved youth for a long time into the future.   I have this feeling that I need to push this idea to its limits.  I’m all in!

We all take some risks.  When I chose to become a teacher and work with urban children the risk of tradgedy was high.  I was well aware of what the streets could do to adolecscents.  So I went above and beyond and tried to give everything I had to children that might not have much of anything to make their lives better.  The world  lost a young man that I came to know in class and then came to love beyond it.  Devon Robinson a.k.a. DAZE DYSH grew to become my son and was killed via gunshot trying to help a friend this past weekend.  After he left me in 6th grade,  we visited often with each other.  I became what he called his “teacher-dad” which is  a title I hold on to proudly.  We had many talks about his path and he always took the time to make sure I was still ”keeping it real” for the kids “in the hood” in my classroom.  I am so honored to have been able to walk with him for the short amount of time he has spent on this earth.  He made me a better man, and I hope I did the same for him.   Right now, I’m feeling like the risks I’ve been taking for kids are taking their toll on me.  However, time is short and I’ll keep trying to help kids no matter how bad the odds may be stacked against them and /or me.  Love and miss you, Devon!  SHOOOOOONUFF.