Bernard

I’ve only had one student that never missed a class. His name is Bernard. I liked Bernard from the second I met him. He’s a quiet man that genuinely cares about the people around him.

Bernard served in the Army. Midway through his enlistment, Bernard saved his company’s ass and was offered the opportunity to go to flight school. Bernard had always wanted to fly, but never had the chance, and would probably never get another. But Bernard’s wife had other plans. Flight school meant more years in the service, so she gave him an ultimatum: stay ground, or find a new wife. Bernard loved his wife, so he gave up the opportunity and finished his enlistment on the ground.

To this day Bernard still regrets not following his dreams.

I ran into Bernard outside the shelter today. He said things were going slow, but good. He asked what I was doing and I told him I was teaching at the shelter still. He said he felt bad because if he’d known he would’ve stopped in to say hi. I told him this was my last semester at the shelter and that I’d gotten a pilot slot at Officer Candidates School. Bernard almost lost it right in the middle of Court Street. He was so happy I actually got embarrassed. He had a huge smile on his face and kept yelling, “Prayer works! Prayer works!”

Thank you Bernard.