You never know who you know
K.C. Vetter
Issue date: 2/18/05 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
It didn't really hit me until this weekend that while we're in grade or high school we don't know who we're actually going to school with.
I mean, think about it: You don't know if anybody that went to your school is going to be a celebrity, singer, politician or make a difference in the world some other way.
Think about the people you sat at lunch with, the weird kid in your English class that constantly hummed to himself, or even the girl in your science class that randomly started doing the "YMCA" (yes that actually happened). Maybe it's even your brother's annoying friend who just loves to harass you. They may just turn out to be famous someday.
Somebody had to have had George Clooney in a history class and may have thought he was a nerd. Another person may have sat by Sarah Evans at lunch where she sang along with the Beach Boys and asked her the whole "who sings this/well keep it that way" line.
My dad went to high school with Richard Marx. I went to school with Michael Zweiner (think fat kid in "Little Giants"). I think everybody went to school with at least some person who will make an impact in the world.
I know I did. Aside from sharing my homework (and getting lost in Washington, D.C.) with Michael, I also went to school with not one, but two, heroes.
Sean Maher and Geoffrey Morris both played football for the Warren Blue Devils. They both also enlisted in the Marines right out of high school in 2003 because they knew they wanted to make a difference. And they both died fighting for their country in Iraq. Geoff died last April and Sean just recently died at the beginning of February.
I knew both of them fairly well but regret not spending the time to get to know them better. I know they're not celebrities, or world-known politicians, but they made such a difference that I will never forget them or what they did.
It's impossible to be able to tell if anyone you went to high school with is going to make a lasting impression in the world; so the only thing that I can really say is this: Get to know your classmates now. Impressions last forever.
I know Sean and Geoff made a lasting impression on me. But it's really sad it took their deaths to realize how much.
I mean, think about it: You don't know if anybody that went to your school is going to be a celebrity, singer, politician or make a difference in the world some other way.
Think about the people you sat at lunch with, the weird kid in your English class that constantly hummed to himself, or even the girl in your science class that randomly started doing the "YMCA" (yes that actually happened). Maybe it's even your brother's annoying friend who just loves to harass you. They may just turn out to be famous someday.
Somebody had to have had George Clooney in a history class and may have thought he was a nerd. Another person may have sat by Sarah Evans at lunch where she sang along with the Beach Boys and asked her the whole "who sings this/well keep it that way" line.
My dad went to high school with Richard Marx. I went to school with Michael Zweiner (think fat kid in "Little Giants"). I think everybody went to school with at least some person who will make an impact in the world.
I know I did. Aside from sharing my homework (and getting lost in Washington, D.C.) with Michael, I also went to school with not one, but two, heroes.
Sean Maher and Geoffrey Morris both played football for the Warren Blue Devils. They both also enlisted in the Marines right out of high school in 2003 because they knew they wanted to make a difference. And they both died fighting for their country in Iraq. Geoff died last April and Sean just recently died at the beginning of February.
I knew both of them fairly well but regret not spending the time to get to know them better. I know they're not celebrities, or world-known politicians, but they made such a difference that I will never forget them or what they did.
It's impossible to be able to tell if anyone you went to high school with is going to make a lasting impression in the world; so the only thing that I can really say is this: Get to know your classmates now. Impressions last forever.
I know Sean and Geoff made a lasting impression on me. But it's really sad it took their deaths to realize how much.
Be the first to comment on this story