This Is For The Class of 2 G's and a $1 (2001) and For The Many Who Have Helped Me To Become Me

I caught this version of the Beach Boy classic on Monday night and I couldn't help but get nostalgic for the Class of 2001 and the four straight years I was able to teach them from 1997 until their graduation. I was a new teacher who dedicated all he had to see them successful (and even made them mixed tapes...remember those?...that had on them numerous songs, including God Only Knows).

It seems like so long ago, 2001. I remember I departed to Tokyo, Japan soon after their graduation, but I thought a piece of me was dying when they finally were moving on....all the conversations, the lessons, the phone calls to parents, the mentoring, the grading, the letters of recommendation, the planning, and reflection - it was all for them. It was also for me to build a foundation for instruction that would be carried with me for my remaining time at the Brown.

God Only Knows What I'd Be Without That Place.

Then again, God only knows who I'd be without my parents, my sisters, my education, my mentors, my friends, my students, Abu, Lossine, Abdi, Chitunga, my work with CWP-Fairfield, my relatives, my memories, my travels, my books, and my hopes.

When Jordan Smith and Adam Levine did this rendition, a whole bunch of emotion boiled up inside of me. I am me because of who all of us are together and for this, I'm grateful, thankful, and appreciative.

I'm heading into this holiday season with much love. I've happened upon tremendous luck and have nothing but respect for all and everyone who had something to do with where I am right now.