Lydia

A dear friend of mine passed away on Easter Sunday. I went to her memorial service yesterday. Lydia had just reached her 89th birthday, and had lived an amazing life. She had raised two amazing children, worked in a number of interesting positions, volunteered for numerous organizations, waws involved in politics, and traveled the world. She often commented that if she didn't keep moving she would rust!

At her memorial her son commented that she got the foundation for her business and vounteer work while in high school. Lydia was in the class of 1939 of Roosevelt High School in Chicago. She completed what was called then a commercial course. She studied accounting, management, typing, shorthand, and more.

These are the kinds of things that I teach in high school (ok, no one teaches shorthand anymore). Today we call it "Career and Technical Education." The names have changed, but the goals have not--to give students practical skills that they can use for college and/or careers. Lydia used and built on her skills from high school, and contributed mightily to many businesses and organizations. I hope I can instill in my students a small measure of what she gained from her high school experience. I also hope that I can encourage (is 'inspire' bragging too much?) to make the world around themselves a better place.

Lydia never asked for a thank you, she just did what she knew was right. Accolades did come, but she was always modest about them. She always had a smile, and always knew someone you just had to meet.

I should be as lucky as Lydia--to have 89 years on this planet, and to impact so many in so many ways.