It was ten years ago that I finished my final year of teaching middle school. Six years in high school would follow before I shifted careers. But that final cohort of 8th graders was truly special. They were the perfect class to transition out with.
One of the coolest traditions was the 8th grade “senior” trip to a YMCA camp in upstate NY. We’d take a bunch of kids, many of whom had never left Brooklyn much less the city, and guided them through adventures in the woods for two days. Zip-lining, hiking—even teaching them to roast marshmallows on a sticks was novel.
This photo is from the last trip I made to that camp. (Sorry it’s blurry. Old tech!)
That’s me in yellow. What am I doing? I’m climbing a huge suspension ladder with one of my favorite kiddos. We are harnessed in for safety; the distance between beams increases the higher we go. Pretty easy at first:
All year long, this young man had been one of my core group of kids. The group that hung out in my classroom at lunch and loved to joke with me about a shared love of a TV show. He was a nerd in the best way, fascinated by trains and knowledgable about tons of random information. He wasn’t the best student, simply because he didn’t try very hard. So not too dissimilar from me at times in my education!
But while I’d spent the year in the role of educator and leader, this journey up the forest ladder put him in the lead. He was way more confident than I was as we climbed. I wasn’t scared, but I’m short. Some of those beams were hard to get up to.
This moment right here ☝️ is when I said, “I can’t go any higher.” And he took my hand to pull me up. I remember so clearly, this normally goofy, smiling kid, suddenly had this quiet authority as he said,
“Yes. You can.”
And I did.
This adventure was one of those moments where someone you know suddenly shows you a deeper part of themself. That was the whole point of taking the class to camp—to let them explore and adventure and learn more about what they were capable of.
On that ladder ten years ago, I got a lesson in receiving. I got to stop being the leader and allow myself to receive help and encouragement. And, I learned more about the tremendous potential this young man possessed. I had never doubted his kindness or worried that he’d not go far in life. But going up that ladder let him shine like never before.
Unfortunately, that light was cut short far too young.
It broke my heart to learn of his death in 2020. As if that year didn’t deal us all enough blows. I only saw him once after we both left the middle school that June. When I did, he was as kind and funny as ever.
I wish the world had gotten to see him flourish. I wish he hadn’t left this life so soon. But although his time was short, he made an impact. I will never forget this adventure up the ladder. And when I think of it, I remember why it’s so important to boost others up. Why it’s important to be the one who gets the boost as well. I lend a hand—and receive support—in honor of that moment and his legacy.
May we all be teachers and students in the little moments of life.