They grow up, sometimes...

A few phases back, I had a student....

During class discussion, he did that hand thing where someone makes a thumb-finger circle and it's supposed to be funny when someone looks down at it  (yeah, I got nothing here).

I looked at his hand, and looked at his smiling face.... and just looked at him til the smile faded.   I innocently asked him  "Is that supposed to mean something?  I'm lost... can you explain it to me?".

I called him out on it.   Left him no place to go with it.  Then, I said  "Seems pretty childish to me.  Is that where you are at right now?  Paying 40 grand for a technical education, so you can play kindergarten games in class?"

On the last day of class, after finals, I had a few words for him.  "You are smart.  You get this stuff so easily you don't have to study, and you can turn around and put it down hands-on.  So easily, you can blow through it without trying.  Imagine.... just imagine... what you could do if you actually tried to accomplish something.  I can see you not just working as a tech, but owning a string of business's that are successful.  You are THAT smart... if you want to be."

 Last week I encountered him in the hall, and we talked a bit.  In the conversation, I asked him "Are you taking this seriously now?"

He looked me right in the eye, and said "Yes, I am".

You know what?  I believe he is.   That young man will be one to watch.