Rob Wells walked into my class in the fall of 1998. He couldn’t sit still and he couldn’t stop talking. He was a mess! But it was his infectious smile and persistent good mood that hooked and pulled me in. I didn’t know it yet, but my life as a teacher would never be the same.
Unless you’re behaving badly, it’s hard to stand out on the first day of school, but not for Rob. It’s been ten years and I can’t really remember exactly what it was about Rob that drew me to him. Maybe it was his quirky sense of humor. Maybe it was his constant state of disorganization. Maybe it was his non-stop stream of odd questions. Maybe it was the fact watching Rob interact with the teachers and other students reminded me a little too much of myself.
Whatever the reason, a bond was formed that I’ve only felt with four or five students in the 15 years I’ve been a teacher. I remember most, if not all, of my students. And I enjoy seeing all of them, but with these few students, seeing them is more like seeing family.
I recently found Rob on Facebook and we met for lunch this week.
Rob has had an incredible 10 years! He lived in Paris, France for three years during high school, and is currently a college student with a part-time job as a banker. (Not with AIG!)
We went to Snuffer’s, shared cheese fries, talked and enjoyed each other’s company.
Before this, I hadn’t had the privilege of re-meeting any of my former students from that far in the past. I must say I was very pleased!
When Rob was in my class, I remember wondering about what course his life would take. Rob wasn’t one of the students I worried about, but I have been curious for the past ten years.
Maybe all teachers do this, (down deep inside I hope they do) but I can’t help wondering/predicting what kind of adults my students will become. I always just expected that Rob would grow to become a fun loving, responsible person.
It’s nice to see that, at least in Rob’s case, my predictions were right on the money.
Rob gave me this card in 1999. 
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