I was in Uber and drove by my son’s middle school yesterday. I reflected on what a gift we both received from going there. I look at my son and see what an outstanding young man he has become. It was not just myself nor my husband who can take the credit, but many people who provided nurturing, guidance, and saw the potential in him. This all came up for me in the few minutes it took for the Uber to drive by Crossroads School in Santa Monica. Since school is starting back I thought about Morgan Schwartz, the Dean of the Middle School at Crossroads in particular.
My son came home one day and said “Mom, Morgan wants to meet with us tomorrow at 7:30 a.m.”. I asked my son if he knew what the meeting was about and he didn’t. This school was not in our neighborhood and I drove anywhere from 1 hour to 1-1/2 hours to get him to school. Just the thought that I would have to get up even earlier to get him there was daunting. The next morning we arrived at the school for our meeting.
Morgan greeted and thanked me for coming but told me the meeting was just with him and my son. He had not been performing up to his full potential and wanted my son to brainstorm with him on what he needed to do to elevate his performance and then sign a contract committing to what he would do going forward.
When I found out the purpose of this meeting I was so grateful to have the honor to pay the tuition, to drive the distance and to get up earlier that day to get my son to that meeting. Morgan on that day gave my son the opportunity to become the master of his destiny, to take the bull by the horn and become a champion for himself. He has used the power that Morgan gave him that day in all that he has undertaken. Morgan’s care and attention continues to drive my son as a business man, as a husband, as a father, as a son and as a friend. He was 13 years old and now at 33 he continues.
I hope that with the new school season beginning that students around the globe are receiving the guidance, direction, and compassion that Morgan provided my son. Thank you Morgan and to all of the Morgans who care to make a difference.
By the way, yesterday was my granddaughter’s first day of preschool and my son so proudly escorted her to school.