A Month of Gratitude, Day 13 - Mr. Weatherbee

Friday, December 13, 2013
When I was a senior in high school, I don't think I could have been less motivated by the idea of school, and my participation in it. I went only often enough to get by, and as the end of the year approached, I was in real danger of not graduating.

This was a problem, as I had already enlisted in the U.S. Navy on the Delayed Entry Program, and my contract and service school selection specified that my graduating from high school was required.*

One of the classes I was failing was Mr. Weatherbee's art class. How does one fail art, you ask? By never going, that's how. So as the end of the quarter loomed, I approached Mr. Weatherbee and begged him to give me a "D" in his class so I could graduate. I explained that even though I knew I didn't deserve the D, I wanted to join the Navy, and needed to graduate to do so. He  took pity on me, and gave me the D. I graduated, entered the Navy, and attended my guaranteed service school. 

Mr. Weatherbee's kindness in giving me a grade I clearly didn't deserve literally changed the course of my life. If I had failed that class, I would not have graduated without summer school, might have lost my service school, might not have joined the Navy at all.

As I've moved through my life, I finally recognize the lesson Mr. Weatherbee taught me: There's a time to force accountability, and a time to let things go. He gave me the benefit of the doubt, and his gamble paid off. I suspect not all of Mr. Weatherbee's gambles turned out so well. But it's a fact that some did, and that's enough.

Today I'm grateful for Mr. Weatherbee, whose decision led me to a productive, successful life.

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*In those days, women wanting to enter the service were required to have a high school diploma. Men could get away with a G.E.D., but the standards for women were higher.

1 comments:

mom in northern said...

They still are if truth be told.