Life has a way of surprising you. It doesn't follow any specific path and in truth, there are so many things in life that you can't control. Perhaps few members of our society know this as well as teachers, who in their line of work come across all kinds of students... and often make guesses about where they'll end up. Sometimes they're right on the money. And sometimes they're just wrong.
Both teachers and students weighed in after Redditor SamBroGaming asked the online community, "Teachers of Reddit, which kid did you think was destined to go places and how did they turn out in the end?"
"I was a science teacher..."
I was a science teacher in the midwest. Had this brilliant girl in 2 separate classes. She was top end in all the STEM areas, took all the AP classes. Graduated high school as a college sophomore. She used to talk about her dream of rainforest pharmaceutical research. Was always on track for something medical related. Or so I thought.
Sounds like I'm leading to tragedy, but happily no. She became a professional artist. Moved to the west coast.
"I once had a student..."
I once had a student who was really delightful and seemed to really enjoy learning. Best grades. Top SAT scores. Involved in clubs and sports. Held down a part time job at Chic-fil-a, or somewhere like that. He had a really great college experience at a top ten university, majored in electrical engineering, really was on a life track for big things, and came back home and has been working for UPS for that last several years. He really enjoys it. Is looking forward to maybe writing a book or going to grad school. Doesn't want to experience the kind of high pressure situation like the university he went to ever again.
"I had a student..."
I had a student who was amazing and wanted to go into politics. Great personality and incredible knowledge of everything political. He got into Michigan got his degree and I always thing he would be a senator someday, but he used those skills he had in hospitality instead and manages an ultra high end lounge in Singapore.
I also have the opposite experience. I had this kid who was a singer (screamo) and I went to see him and his band play a few times. He really shined onstage. He could get that crowd all worked up and moshing after one song. It was really incredible to watch. He even got a spot on the side/local stage at the Warped Tour. But, last time I saw him he had his hair cut short and had stopped singing. He just couldn't find the right group of guys to take it to the next level. I always though he'd be a superstar.
"He went to college..."
A very smart, top of the class Valedictorian with multiple full scholarship offers. He went to college for a double major in Math and something Science related. Girlfriend was his equal- double science major, Valedictorian of her school. They stayed together and married after college. She is a SAHM with seven children and he has a business cutting lawns. Both are very kind and happy, but they did absolutely nothing with their degrees.
"A few years in..."
Not a teacher, but a friend of mine in high school was the next Bill Gates, according to every teacher in school. Guy was legitimately a genius, created his own functioning programming at 9 (and this was in the early 80's), eventually got a full-ride scholarship to MIT for robotics.
A few years in, couldn't handle the pressure to succeed and took his life.
"Of course..."
My brother was homecoming king, senior class president, valedictorian, captain of wrestling team, first chair frenchhorn, very handsome and athletic.
He went to a top university honors program for one year- dropped out and became a plumber.
Of course he graduated highest in his plumbing class at technical school, and still everything he touches is golden. IE, first attempts at carving (chess set) and woodworking (dish cupboard) won prizes at the state fair.
Following this guy in school was hell.
"My parent's house..."
I was the kid people thought was going places. Had a CNA license by 17, worked at the Mayo Clinic part time in an exclusive program for potential medical school students, graduated high school at 16, did absolutely phenomenal in all my medical classes and was gearing up to begin University for pre-med and then....
My parent's house was foreclosed on in the recession of 2008. We had to move to rural Oklahoma in a spare house owned by family where the nearest community college 40 minutes away taught two major classes: animal husbandry and English. My dreams of medical school were ruined. I didn't have any access or funds to get to a university.
It did turn out I suppose. I got married at 21, am still in school at almost 25 getting a degree in graphic design. Still wicked smart, but that debacle crushed my confidence and I really can't hold down a job long term.
I had teachers email me and ask me how my medical school dreams are going. It was depressing to tell them I'm just a part time graphic designer and stay at home wife.
"About 20 years ago..."
My mom is a teacher. About 20 years ago she got the sibling of a previous student. The mother of the girls would not shut up about how much better the younger daughter was at everything. She would make little side comments like, "do you think it's going to mess up my older daughter since my younger daughter is so much more beautiful?" (She wasn't...) Or "Oh your job is going to be so much easier with this one! I don't know how you handled my oldest!" (The oldest was fine) This stuck with my mom so a couple years ago she decided to look them up on Facebook. Older daughter is doing well. In a committed relationship and working as a nurse. Younger daughter is about 500 pounds and lives with the mom still. Not working because she's trying to get her acting career going.
"He told us this story..."
In 7th grade I had an art teacher that had worked with art and teaching for well over 30 years.
He told us this story about one of his pupils who was excellent at art, according to him and his experience as a teacher. He told us that the pupil entered art school, graduated (I don't know what degree(s). I can't remember what my teacher specified), moved on in life.
He (the pupil) wanted to create art and become a professional artist since he had a degree and experience in art. But instead he started getting interested in the economics and auctioning of art pieces. Soon enough, he started studying basic economics and later got another degree.
With his newly acquired knowledge in economics he started a small company, grew it bigger. This company made him well over $400k a year.
NBC News via Lisa Anderson