Old Friends

Who knew a student of mine from only two years ago would become an old friend. That's what she told me we were as we parted ways yesterday after sharing a cup of coffee. With the exception of Facebook, I hadn't seen her for more than two years.

Se Hee was a student of mine who almost failed my class over two years ago. I remember her well from those days, but not for the usual reasons. Most students at my university aspire for an A+, and Se Hee had given up on the prospect of passing due to an illness that kept her from coming to class for about two weeks. What I secretly believed happened at the time was she was just tired of a system that asks too much of her, and doesn't give much back.

After that semester she decided to take some time off from school. She visited me in my office to ask about studying abroad in the U.S. I doubted at the time I was much help. She called me days before she had planned to leave that summer to tell me she was actually doing it. I couldn't have been happier for her. That was the summer of 2009.

She spent two full years in Champagne-Urbana, Illinois.

The woman I met yesterday for coffee was nothing, NOTHING, NOTHING like the young student I once had in class. She had grown up, looked confident, and above all seemed happy.

She gave me a hug as we said goodbye yesterday, and university students in this country never hug me. EVER.

Keep the faith.