On Thursdays I am supposed to tutor a couple of near 18-year-old kids who are suppposed to be achieving an alternative diploma by the end of the semester. (In other words they have already mucked up the regular sequence of courses and the school offered them this alternative track.) One of them showed up but averred she had no assignment to work on -- or none she was prepared to work on in the absence of her very supportive friend. If she does graduate I give the majority of the credit to the friend.
The other student did not show up at all That is a challenge he has faced since his sophomore year. However, three of his friends did show up. They had been tasked with telling me my assigned student had taken an early shift at work instead coming to study with me. At least two of these three friends spent some time with schoolwork. More importantly (to me) all three of them interacted with me intermittently throughout the period.
One of the three guys remarked that he has 6 assignments to finish and if he can do 2 a day he will only need 3 days. Yes, I agreed; 2 times 3 is 6. Furthermore I noted that I had learned 2 x 3 = 6 in second grade. He had the grace to smile at being tautological. (He does not know the word but he understands the meaning.)
One of the political skills I miss most on the national stage is the ability to smile at one's own false steps and move on. I personally find that really hard to do but I had assumed such a deficit would be disqualifying for public office. Apparently not.
At the end of the period this same boy promised to see me the next time he saw me. Inborn habits die hard.
These are really nice guys who I hope will soon be running the county and later the country, the kind of people who make you feel good about being with them and hopeful about living in the same world with them for another few decades. The kind of people who make even someone like me discount the need for mere academic success so long as they can learn and think and help each other and play and fish and make jokes and smile.
This ministry they offer for 53 minutes at a time is not a matter of planning or design; it simply emerges from who they are.
I can hardly wait for them to start running the country in actual reality. A lot of people who are closer to my age should be retired to make room.