Tryouts and Character

I have to give him credit. Julius is constantly trying to push the limits of what he can do. The words I cant are not in his vocabulary. He has decided he will go out for baseball and not for just any position he wans to be a pitcher. So he gets a glove, balls and a net and starts practicing everyday for three months, he works out tirelessly and falls asleep most nights with his books in his lap. He drinks protein shakes twice a day and eats more bananas then your average chimp. He has gotten taller maybe a bit broader as well. His strength has increased more than 40%. But with this said he walked out onto the field yesterday for Pitching tryouts and actually asked the pitching coach to show him how to throw. I had to admire his spunk yesterday to go to tryouts with dozens of other guys and then say basically I know nothing about your sport and I am not afraid to ask you learn or try out. Such character, such a character.

"I am not always right I am just positive I am right" J.B.

Medical school at night?

I have wondered what my student has been doing up at night on the computer. Now I know.

Julius and I have been butting heads the last few days. Apparently he has been going to medical school at night, not really but he is a 16 year old teenager and is sure he knows everything. He has a severe sinus infection and although he has not gone to school for 6 days because he has been terribly sick he is sure that he does not need to see a physician or get medication.

After dragging him off to the Dr.s yesterday afternoon, I explained I don't think he passed the medical boards as he is pretty sick and needs medication, although I found it funny he did not understand.

Julius's infection has shown me that although I thought his paperwork was up to date, it was not. These things happen and the outcome could have been worse.

We had asked for and received and extension from both the group here in the US and the group in Germany. But somewhere along the way his health insurance had not been renewed.

Remember when you have a student keep the paperwork together and in up to date order.

I considered this a lucky break that we only had a sinus infection and some antibiotics instead of a broken bone, as we all know Julius and at any given point he can be found walking on banisters, doing flips on his snowboard or seeing just how slippery black ice is when you have sneakers on.

Lesson learned here...make sure your students paperwork is up to date.