This young guy is the best friend I’ve ever had in life. The first time I saw him, the day he came into the world, I was in love with him. We have always had good times together and I want to believe my son is smiling like this... with this happy face... because I was dad first, then friend second, and then dad third.
I always respected him... my son... he whom I would give my heart to in order to keep him alive and thriving.
This young guy is now a 21 year old man. He is a senior at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He just called me at 10:30 PM and told me he got his first semester grades... 5 A’s and a B in CALCULUS!
I’m shedding a tear as I write this. This is a continuation of these grades and a continuation of being placed on the Dean’s list.
For me, the pride comes from my son being African-American, in a university like JMU... with its 20,000 student population... few of them black.... and he thriving in that environment because I never allowed my sometimes old school radical blackness to infect, or infect, him as I raised him.
To know him is to love him.
He told me, at the age of 6 years old, that he was going to be a teacher one day. When he told me that, at 6 years old, my mind set was to immediately go with what he told me. I never attempted to persuade him to do something else. And as the years passed by, he became more and more serious about his proclamation. And here he is today... one half of a year from graduation.
WOW!
Of course, JMU being a teacher’s school and all, he will return there in the fall of 2014 for his Master’s year. And then, America, you will have one of the best young men on the planet available to teach your children and make them as intelligent as he is.
Now... to figure out how to pay for that year. Hoo boy!
My son will be home in two days and I can’t wait to give him ANOTHER big dad hug and tell him how much I love him and how proud of him I am.
This is what being a dad is all about!
RLJ
