I’m 42 years old, have grey hair, fight daily my expanding waistline, and have teenaged daughters. Any number of those things might qualify me as old, but I had another “goodness you are old” event happen tonight: a former student got married.

Now, I’ve been to one other former student wedding, missed one last week while on vacation, and will go to another in October, but this one just hit home for me. Of all the classes I’ve had over the years, this one is easily one of my favorites. The girls in this class pulled me back into coaching as sixth graders, the boys always wanting me to play football or basketball, and we as a class just clicked. They’ve always held a special place in my heart and always will.

To watch them as young adults just made me know, yes, I’m in a job that makes a difference. As their teacher, I may not have made a huge difference in the grand scheme of things, but talking to some of them, listening to what they’ve done and where they are going in life, I was just in awe.

And then there were the funny moments when former babysitters would come up and look at both daughters in awe of their own. Former basketball players who are now shorter then my oldest daughter, my youngest getting pulled onto the dance floor to dance the Macarena with another former player, things like that which will make me smile years from now.

A question during the #ArkEdChat a few night ago asked if teaching is a job, a profession, or a passion? As I watched these “kids”, I believe even more this is profession, fueled both by passion AND courage: the passion to keep learning, growing as a professional and the courage to step outside the box, doing what’s best for students.

The last thing: as the father of two daughters, I’m going to be a mess when they get married! 🙂