Last week, I was contacted by the father of one my former students, Connor Deal. Connor passed away two years ago this month from complications due to pneumonia. He was a vibrant, handsome young man with an incredible smile and passion for life. Connor loved Star Wars and hoped to be a film director when he grew up.
I had the privilege of being Connor's art teacher. He sat just two tables over from my desk and there's rarely a day that passes I don't think about him as I'm going by that table. The tree and commemorative stone set in his memory are located just a few yards from my window. I see them every day and he's always present somewhere in my life.
Perhaps the most important thing I have that keeps him close to my heart is something his mother, Nan, gave me a few days after his funeral. My boss called me into his office that day. He told me Mrs. Deal had been by to say thank you for all the prayers from our staff and had left a gift for me. He left me to be alone in his office and closed the door so I could view it in privacy. I guess he knew what was going to happen when I opened the large, manila envelope setting on his desk. I reached over, took it, and broke the seal. Inside I found a drawing done by Connor and an essay he wrote for his language arts class. The essay was entitled, "My Favorites." I began to read his words, hearing his voice. He discussed his favorite foods, how much he liked Star Wars, and who his friends were. The final lines were all about me, and I paraphrase..."my favorite class is art...and my favorite teacher is Mr. Paxton." I broke down and wept.
Mrs. Deal did more than leave me a gift. She gave me a treasure...Connor's legacy. That picture and letter are with me at school and I will cherish them forever.
On March 5, at 9:00 am, at Bonham Middle School, runners, walkers, and friends will assemble at Connor's tree to honor him with the first annual Honor Connor 5K Fun Run. When the race is over, we'll all celebrate the morning and the life of a young man who never got to live his dreams, but his memory will live on at Bonham and in the hearts of those who knew him. I will never forget Connor and will always value the brief opportunity I got to be in his presence.
If you're reading this, I hope you'll join us at Bonham this March as we "honor Connor."
Happy running!
TFR
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