Facebook for the Beloved
Posted By Sidney on February 16, 2009
As I scan various blog posts about social media, I often come across posts that rant about how Facebook is cheapening the true meaning of friendship. Although I have not had the time to dig deeper and come to my own philosophical belief about the “friending” phenomenon, I have stumbled upon what I believe is a great example of why Facebook is getting a bum rap.
A few weeks ago, I learned that my high school adviser and mentor (a.k.a. the sole reason I became a first generation college student) passed away at the age of 55. Mr. Milton C. Caldwell (or Mr. C as we affectionately called him) was an extraordinary, innovative educator with “soul vision.” He could look deep inside of you – beyond his humongous tinted specs and the smoke of those skinny brown cigarettes – assess what you needed most to help you succeed and then deliver it.
I learned of his passing through Facebook so I immediately turned to Facebook to seek out others that were touched by his gift. I formed a group called, “Dear Mr. Caldwell, Thank You!” and to my surprise former students from over the past 25 years immediately began to join and share their thoughts and memories. Here is a sampling of their entries:
“His class was a very difficult one to pass and I am still befuddled at how I even got through it. What I remember most about him was the extra push he always gave me to do my best. I can also say that to this day I still remember the Greek Alphabet because he quizzed us on it. I will miss him dearly and will never forget him or the impact he’s had on me.”
“I will always be Brother Hucks when thoughts of Mr. C come to mind. He was always able to distract your attention while simultaneously injecting knowledge in your mind and a place for him in your heart. Thank you Mr. C for everything.”
“There are three things I will always remember about Mr. C. First, throwing erasers to get our attention. Next, learning the maps of every continent. Finally, the way he pushed me to be my best. He never let me take the easy way out because he knew I was capable of more.”
I don’t know all 283 students that joined the group but we are all “friends” bound by the common iconic thread of Mr. C. We are diverse in every way, yet in our grief we have found comfort in our common story.
The high school grounds served as the base for Mr. C’s treasure hunt. Once he found the treasure in us, he devoted his life to helping us see it in ourselves. For that, his former students “friended” each other to honor his life because he honored our lives with the gift of motivation and purpose. Rest in Peace Mr. C.
Comments
Leave a Reply