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Quote of the Month

This Month's Quote

Sometimes I feel that I've done it all. I've worked in a variety of industries, a wind tunnel, a hospital research facility, a building science laboratory, even a satellite testing facility. I've been a technician, a fork truck operator, a laboratory manager, a photographer, a surgical instrument designer, a senior scientist, and a programmer. In this varied career, I helped build things like cars and vinyl siding and copper tubing. I've worked on structures like the SkyDome, the CN Tower, the Museum of Civilization, space simulation test chambers and the human knee.

So everyone asks me; "Why did you become a teacher?"

Well, I have to admit, it was because of the money. (Ha! Sorry, I couldn't resist!) To tell the truth, it was a tough decision. The opportunity for my latest career move came at a time when I was enjoying great success at a place where I had always wanted to work. Space, the final frontier. The cream of the technical crop. Communication satellites, thermal vacuum chambers, Canadarm, Space Station Freedom.

But something was happening out there. The world was a'changin'. In case anyone hasn't noticed, we are living through one of the most dramatic revolutions in human history. A paradigm shift like no other. A breathtaking leap in technological breakthroughs occurring so fast you can hear the pink slips drop. The New Economy. A future both exhilarating and scary at the same time. A future full of undreamed possibilities. Living science fiction. Man, I love it!

So when I saw the plans for technological education the visionaries at this school board were developing, I saw the opportunity of a lifetime. I saw how I could be part of the New Education, an opportunity to guide the next generation through their own exciting career leaps, a chance to play a larger role in this incredible revolution of a new age.

So I took my own leap and became a teacher. A brand new school and a brand new lifestyle. And it's great. I work with a great bunch of students, very friendly and very helpful staff, and a beautiful facility. (There is an old saying among technicians: Whoever has the most toys when they die, wins. I think I'm winning!)

When I look back to my high school years, I fondly remember a teacher who inspired me to go my own way, to explore the possibilities of the future and to have fun in whatever I chose to do. Mr. Zimmerman, I never thought in a million years I'd be joining your ranks. But I have, and now I know how you felt. It's hard to describe the feeling you get when you see a student of yours begin to dream and imagine, to experience that flash of insight and that warm feeling of accomplishment. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The question "why I became a teacher" will be answered when I see one of my former students plant the Canadian flag on the plains of Mars. Then, I'll know, and you will all know, why I became a teacher.

Well, it's been a long seven summers, but the most memorable of my life. First, the two year Internship Program, with the best bunch of people you ever want to meet. Russ, Chris, Secret Agent Man, Karen, Jan, Ron, Mark, Jamie, Tim, Wayne, Tony, Mary, Meredith, Sandra, Steve, the Annettes, and the rest of the Queen's 94 bunch, I love you all. Our teachers, George, Jim, Herb, Arthur, Roy, etc., were wonderful inspirations. Our motto: "We'll be teachers when pigs fly!" Folks, the pigs are flying in formation!

The third year, I had the pleasure of working with a great buddy, Greg, and together we built the impossible: a 24 foot office trailer in two weeks. Greg, you're amazing. Met a couple of teachers with incredible energy, too: Ken Ball and Dick Hopkins: you're both to be admired. The fourth year was the year of the Honours Tech Specialist. A wonderful class, great people and another inspirational teacher, John Cowan. Thanks for the insights, all of you. It's been a great summer, with Ray, Stevie and the boat people, cottages...memories to last a lifetime.

Now, I return to Queen's in the summer as a teacher's teacher. Who would ever have thought? Nothing teaches like teaching. It's great to work with Brian Perkins, the Emptage brothers, Don Cook and all the rest. One thing you learn at Queen's is that education, and learning, is a lifetime vocation. So true. You can never stop learning. I also learned something else...tech teachers are the best. Incredible talent, enthusiasm, and dedication. The summers go by, the memories blend together, (are the students getting younger?), and the faces and names become a blur. But nothing will ever replace the hot summer days chattin' outside the shop, the cool evenings on the porch at residence, the telling of stories from the September to June blast.

I'm counting the days till I see ya all in Kingston next summer!

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