high school classmate, dread?

this morning after my workout and right as i was going into the locker room, i came down the stairs and saw this guy my age looking at me, and i looking at him. we knew each other. it very quickly came to me it was a boy from my homeroom class all four years of high school.

he was star basketball player, hung out with the popular guys. i think if i recall correctly, one of his best friends was like the patrick dempsey of the class of 2003 (hair and all). let me just set the stage a bit -- i was NOT in that group. ha. i was very quiet, shy, and i wouldn't be surprised if people didn't really know me. i went to school and went home. (ps. i have no regrets about)

this guy, i always always remember him being so kind. despite his status in the school, his group of friends, or despite where and who he sat with at lunch, he was so nice. he was not intimating as 'patrick dempsey' was. he may not have considered me a friend or even acquaintance; but he left a lasting impression on me. the popular boy wasn't afraid to say hi to me in class or talk to me in the hallway. that is what i remember of him.
as i ran into him this morning, all i could think about his guy was how nice he was and how accepting he was despite your "social" status. i surprisingly said hi to him. he didn't recognize me off bat (he said he eventually knew who i was... debatable), and we briefly caught up as i was cooling off from run. i walked away being so refreshed/inspired in humanity. ha, if i can say that.

there are KIND people out there. and really our attitude, or actions, our 'brand', speaks SO LOUD. He currently is a middle school teacher and married. i was so proud of who he became, because i believe he truly deserved it.

 i don't know if he changed my life in high school, or if this morning  he restored my faith in my high school classmates; but rather, it was a testament to me the power of one. one person really can impact a person, a crowd's life. i am thankful for the silent example of this young man. he has really made me contemplate how my actions are interpreted by others. and really -- if we only had more people like him, what a huge difference our society would see. a person from the past, continues to teach me and inspire me.

i guess that's maybe why he became middle school teacher.