Chapter 40: I Felt the Breeze As You Sprinted By Me

Dear Stuart:

I experience no greater thrill as an activist-educator than when one of my students appears poised to sprint by me, to leave a greater mark on this world than I could ever imagine leaving. A few weeks ago as we sat in my office and you told me you intended to dedicate your life to teaching, channeling your passion for social justice by cultivating activists out of college students, my heart jumped. In the beauty of the moment I failed to tell you how proud I am of you, how humbled I am to count you among my mentees and collaborators in the struggle for social justice. You were so matter-of-fact about it, poised to sprint on by. I was so proud I momentarily lost the ability to speak.