Today was a gut-wrenching day. I found out earlier that a student of mine in the Air Force passed away in a tragic accident on Jeju Island in South Korea. During my tenure as an AETC instructor, I took a different approach to teaching: I actually cared about my students - each and every one of them. Though this was frowned upon by the institution, I loved them like my own children. These were baby airmen that I molded into young professionals. I instructed them, mentored them, ridiculed them, and most of all, I loved them unconditionally. This particular student was one of the best people that I have ever known and I dont say things of this magnitude lightly. He was absolutely selfless; never drank nor smoked. He was clean of mind, body, and spirit, yet, he was taken away from us so abruptly. He didnt do this in a douchy, forced, Air Force or Christian way either. In fact, I think he was an atheist! He did it because it was how he chose to live his life. He didnt lust, steal, lie, gossip, or hate. I will forever respect him for being all of the things that I only dreamt about being because he was truly a beautiful human being; a man amongst men. He walked the hardest of paths in his life on earth and will continue doing so in his journey through infinity because he is stubbornly too good and forgiving. In the wake of the tragedy, Korean Linguists of all walks of life - past and present - are reeling and suffering because we truly lost a great one. You will be missed, young man. You will be loved. You will be remembered forever. At the very least, I will never forget about you and I will never stop loving you. I will do my damnedest to lead a better, more altruistic existence in your honor until mine own dying breath. I vow this through and through. Your Weeping Instructor and Eternal Friend, Paul
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 00:45:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015