When I was younger, I went through the instabilities of family life that many people go through and they really do have an affect on a person. My parents divorced when I was five. I moved in with my late step dad Mike (who was wonderful) when I was around 10 and while Mike was around, he and Mom kept me busy tagging along with them to square dances during the week and the added after party on the weekend. We were busy and on the run. Being around such instability as a youngster can play a toll on one's academic performance.
At my second new school within a few years, I did what I could to fit in. I was a clown, a milder version of what I deal with everyday (I would at least like to think) and I probably was not passing everything. I was the new kid on the block (no intended references here) and found it hard to make friends in my new setting where I was really a comparatively poor person at the time. All that at once, can create an interesting situation.
With much care and concern or maybe frustration.... Okay, Frustration .... my pod of teachers (the four teachers responsible for giving me their expert part in the 5th grade curriculum) decide to have a meeting about young D. Rad. They believe that I was not being successful in my present (1985) academic setting and want to move me to a better place. Yes, I was momentarily a special ed. candidate (the irony is that the year before, I was a Gifted and Talented candidate).
But, one of the teachers in my pod spoke out. She knew she could get work out of me and was not about to let them do what they intended. She spoke to my mom and stepdad about the situation and mom made sure to let me know that Mrs. R. pulled my but out of the fire. If I had been given that opportunity, I may have used it to get by with as little as possible. But, Mrs R's bet payed off.
I graduated HS with honors (after moving again and going through the death of my stepdad Mike). I graduated college with honors. I went to grad school and had a 3.7 GPA. Not perfect, but definitely something to be happy about. It wasn't until recently that I could say with confidence that I am a smart person. It feels pretty good. Then, after I moved back to town, I invited Mrs. R. over (close to 20 years later) to my nice little house to meet my wife and show off my degrees that I may not have received if she had not rescued me... or it would have been a lot harder to get the label off.
Tune in another day for Part II. This was supposed to be a short entry after all.
