One of the great pleasures of teaching is meeting so many really good people. I enjoy getting to know more about my students than just what their test scores tell me. With so many students starting a second career, we always have a variety of very talented people from all walks of life. One student used to work making custom $5,000 guitars by hand. Others worked as technicians in the telecom industry, and still others in fields such as computer networking. Among this collection of very interesting people, some individuals really stand out for their attitude and leadership. Kelvin Melton always has a smile, an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and a great overall attitude. He is a leader – taking time to help other students. But most of all, he is a consummate professional who truly loves the field of HVACR. Kelvin served his country well – doing two tours as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan. Nobody can outwork Kelvin. He comes to school in the morning after working all night and still is charged up about his studies and sits right up front in the class room. Although I am sure he has had his share of hardships, he never complains, but works diligently towards accomplishing his dream. It has truly been a pleasure to work with him these last two semesters. His enthusiasm inspires other students to up their game. Kelvin died unexpectedly at home two days ago at the age of 26, cutting his promising HVACR career short. I must admit that I am still trying to make sense of it myself. One thing I can truly say is that Kelvin was not waiting for someone else to fulfill his dreams – he was actively pursuing them with every fiber of his being. If you have something that you want to accomplish or a dream to work towards, don’t wait – start working today towards the fulfillment of your goals and dreams. When you get there you can thank Kelvin for showing you how its done.
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