Shamel & Anna

Today I was given two visual representations of why I do what I do. Since 1999, I have taught a little over a thousand students. Many of these students made indelible impressions which would classify them as simply unforgettable. Some were just the sunshine in my day and some kept me on knees to pray. Today I ran into two of my former students and it just did my heart well to see them, especially considering the fact that I return to work in roughly two weeks.


The first student that I ran into today was Shamel. Shamel is my adoptive nephew whom I taught at Broughton High in 2001 and 2002. However, Shamel and I did not always have a pleasant Uncle-Nephew type relationship, at the beginning, contentious would be a good way to describe it, as he was in a class of nearly 30 freshmen and sophomores trying to learn Spanish. It was my first year teaching in the public school, and Shamel was determined to show me what I was made of. Shamel was a typical class clown, mouthy and ostentatious with the grades to prove it. Long story short, Shamel failed the first semester of Spanish I with me. But during the second semester, I noticed that his behavior was more subdue and he was actually doing his homework and appeared to be learning.

Shamel passed the second semester and earned a B on his final exam. During the second semester, Shamel and I grew closer in terms of a mentor-mentee relationship. I noticed that around April, he started calling me Uncle Tyson. I didn’t think much of it considering that I was already an uncle. I had Shamel yet again for Spanish II the following academic year. By this time everyone from, students, faculty and administration actually thought that Shamel was my biological nephew and I would be summoned upon any of his mischievous antics. Today, Shamel is such a hard worker. He works at Moe’s in Cameron Village. He worked to help put his younger sisters, who are twins through college at N.C. Central University. He is about to turn twenty-six in October and told me that he is a father and the baby girl is due December 17. He is ready and armed for the responsibility. I could not believe that he is nearly twenty-six and I told him that I was a little bit younger than he was when I first taught him ten years ago, and his eyes just lit up. I am so proud of my nephew, as I now have three; Andrew, Cole and Shamel (of these, Shamel is the oldest).

After scarfing down the burrito and chips from Moe’s courtesy of Shamel, I decided that it would be good for me to attempt to burn off some of the calories I had just consumed. I went to my neighborhood YMCA and got a good cardio session in. I cycled about seven miles. After my cycle session, I decided to cool down on the track. Lo and behold I literally ran into Anna, one of my former students from Saint Mary’s class of 2010. Anna had the Tyson double header. She suffered with me in both advisory (homeroom) and in Spanish classes. Anna was in my Honors Spanish III and Spanish V classes as a sophomore and senior. She was in my homeroom for all four years. I still remember meeting Anna for the first time and her mother telling me that “We’ve heard that your advisory is the best one on campus!” Immediately, I was flattered. The Best on campus? She’s either really trying too hard to be nice or has me confused with another advisor. I watched Anna grow from a freshman into a poised member of the SMS Alumni Association. Anna has always been a hard worker, in class and out of class. She was pleasant and always respectful. I noticed that Anna really excelled in math and science, and Spanish. Anna went through the normal junior and senior year stressors that any college bound student goes through. I had not seen much of Anna since she graduated. I keep up with her through Twitter and Facebook, but had not really seen her. Anna is now a sophomore Physics major at Clemson University and is set to make her societal debut in September. Over four years you really get attached to students, and hate to see them go. But, as with most life journeys, we’re just passing through.

Seeing Shamel and Anna today, was refreshing. It reminded me that I teach to make a difference. To Shamel, I am Uncle Tyson. To Anna, I’m her favorite advisor and Spanish teacher. I have several other similar stories of countless students, but seeing these two today, put me in a state of humility. As I continue to discern my calling into diaconal ministry in God’s holy church, regardless of what other career paths I assume, I am and always will be a teacher at heart, whether inside or outside of the classroom. Thanks be to God!

Peace,

Karsten