What a Prince!

One of my students (classroom student, not band student) was chosen by his peers to be on homecoming court! Friday night was the homecoming game and he looked so wonderful in his tux! He was all smiles as he walked around the football game talking to all of his friends and acquaintances who congratulated him on this special honor. To me, it was a portrait of what I want for my students: he felt just like any other kid. He wasn't being singled out because of a diagnosis, he was being singled out because of a high honor (at least by high school standards).

Laura and I stood on the field and I knelt down with video camera in hand like a proud parent and captured his moments of glory on tape as the homecoming festivities commenced. When they called out the court, he escorted a very sweet young lady and went directly to the correct place. I was so proud that he remembered exactly what was told to him during practice several days earlier (we had discussed it in class that day, but the generalization from the classroom to the football field is difficult). Then, they announced that he had been elected Homecoming Prince! The homecoming chairperson had given me warning, but the tears still came as I saw the excitement on his face and heard the thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd. What a perfect night for a wonderful young man!