"You're Here!"

This week I spent a morning on Purdue's campus at the medical school building speaking to first year medical students. I'd done the same thing last year, and had been surprised that one of my former students, Kyle O., was in that group of grad students. We'd had a nice reunion and quick catch up back then, and I had my fingers crossed that I might see him again this year. (See below for more about that day.)

But, since I was speaking to first year med students and Kyle was now a second year, I knew that it was pretty unlikely.

When I was finished, I stepped out into the hallway, now crowded with students, and began making my way through the crush to the elevators. Suddenly I heard,

"You're HERE!!" 

and Kyle was standing in front of me with his arms wide open for a hug. 

"I was hoping I'd run into you today!" he cried when we stepped apart.

"I was, too, but since you aren't a first year med student, I didn't think I would," I replied. "Why are you here now?"

Kyle looked a little sheepish. "Well, I mentored the new first year med students last week when they arrived and helped them get settled into the program, so..."

(I was not surprised. Kyle was that kind of helpful sort of guy back in 4th and 5th grade, too.)

We stood there chatting a bit and he shared that he'd decided that his specialty was going to be orthopedic surgery. And then his his eyes twinkled as he grinned and said,

"You've already had everything replaced, so I guess I'll never be your surgeon."

"Oh, yeah?" I retorted. "I still have one real hip left. I'll save it for you, okay?"

And we laughed together, had a few more hugs, and parted.

I dug through my photos when I got home and found this one of Kyle speaking at an end of the year surprise banquet the parents had thrown for me in 2012. (Go here to read about that.)

At the end of the banquet, the kids had swarmed me for a group hug and there's a much younger (and MUCH shorter) Kyle visible in the crowd!

Memories that I treasure but that also make me wish I were still in the classroom. I taught some of the nicest, sweetest kids on the planet and I miss those days.
 

I hope I am asked back next year to speak to the first year med students again. I enjoy it and both times have found the med students to be caring men and women who are anxious to learn.

And  I sure hope that I run into Kyle again if I am asked to return. Seeing someone that you spent two years with in the classroom, someone you came to love and care about, is awesome. Especially when you get a glimpse into their adult life and discover that, yes, they ARE the great people you thought they were. Kyle is all that and more.

Here's that account from last year and the first time I'd bumped into Kyle since he was in elementary school.

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August 13, 2025

I spent the morning on Purdue's campus speaking to first year medical students on the topic, "The Asymmetrical Relationship between Doctor and Patient." Kind of a complicated topic but essentially the point was to help the medical students better see the patient's perspective.

As I introduced myself, I mentioned that my background was in Education and that I'd taught locally. Not expecting an affirmation, I asked, "Were any of you in my class or go to Hershey Elementary?"

To my surprise, a hand went up and a voice I knew said, "Me! I was in your class."

He held up his name placard, and my jaw dropped. Kyle O., a really great kid who was in my class for 4th and 5th grade.

And who is now a whole lot taller than he was twelve years ago. (Later during the morning, someone asked a rhetorical question, "Where were you twelve years ago?" and Kyle piped up, "I was in Mrs. I's class." Hah!)

After the session was over, Kyle and I caught up just a bit before he had to go to the next one. I went home smiling - it always does my heart good to see a former student.

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I'll share one last post on acquiring a service dog (it's Pepper's turn!) and then move on to other things that have been happening, including the Breyer "decorator" I found on eBay.

Stay 'tooned!