“Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.” – Groucho Marx
Just yesterday, it was November 26, 2018… my first day as a teacher. It was the four-week gap between Thanksgiving and Winter Break. To say students were checked out would be an understatement—but there we were, awkwardly staring at each other. Fortunately for everyone, our stoic nature subsided quickly, and I began to know the liveliest, funniest, and most energetic bunch of sixth graders—or as we call them now… the graduating class of 2025.
As we navigated through our middle school years together—both students and teacher—we developed an interesting and special bond. Playing Xbox with Barker & Pollard, hosting epic rap battles with Jacob Rowley & Tavares Russell, “Lunch Bunch” sell-out screenings of classic films like Jaws and Napoleon Dynamite, crackin’ crispy LaCroixs with Branden Woods, and watching old SNL clips of Sandler & Farley every Friday… We certainly had fun together. I was lucky to have many of you in class again during your seventh-grade year, and even luckier to teach a handful of you a third time as eighth graders. But as our time together in middle school came to an end, I was saddened to lose this special group of students.
But as Dr. Ian Malcolm states, “Life, uh uh uh… finds a way.” And we were reunited a couple of years later. Blessed as I was to have known you in your “younger and more vulnerable years,” I was elated at the opportunity to follow you (à la Mr. Feeny) on your journey to Kokomo High School. Your growth and accomplishments never cease to amaze me—whether you’re making state title runs, reinventing yourself, starring in the school play, pushing yourself to the brink academically, or simply beating me in a game of 1v1. It’s been such an honor to watch you all grow and mature into the intelligent, charismatic, and brilliant young adults you are today. I’m so proud of every single one of you. Thank you for letting me tag along and be your Mr. Feeny.
Class dismissed,
Mr. Whiteman
