June 1st was Monique's high school graduation. yesterday, it was Tom Fletcher's turn. sometime in the afternoon, he gave the valedictory address, as befits his accomplishment as the top student of his graduating class at College Park HS, in Pleasant Hill CA. i would have loved being at Tom's commencement exercise, but ATDP's opening day is real close now, and I have a ton of things to do before I can let go my administrative responsibilities and simply teach, simply revel being in the presence of awesome, smart kids, for yet another summer. (this picture, by the way, was snapped about a week or so ago, when Tom came by my office so we could talk and strategize about TIC this summer; he'll be assisting in my class, and giving visionary talks and stuff. ;-)

i look up today, four years from that first summer of ATDP's pioneering Internet Classroom, and feel like it was only last summer when these 8th grade kids came into my life, and changed it completely. that whole class was astonishing, the diversity a perfect mirror to Berkeley's, but in those two--Tom and Monique--resided a special vision. A perfect blend of science and art. it has always gone without saying for me--as there's really no need for any adult to add to a kid's already stressful high school experience by articulating awfully high expectations--but i DO expect Tom and Monique to accomplish great things in this life. i can only hope i live long enough to see it. there is an old, mostly unspoken riddle we all carry around with us, and it has to do with the question of what it means to be human.

if i could, i'd freeze myself at this point in time, and vanish into the ions and neutrinos of space... while retaining my consciousness and ability to observe. then, i would just watch. watch them both--and all of you--grow and evolve. i know that in due time, the answer to that riddle will clearly emerge in the lives of all the individuals i've been privileged to know through my time here in Berkeley, as students, and as friends.

{ net.casting }
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