"Nathan, how do you tell Jordan and Ryan apart?" my mom asked one day while we were all riding in the car somewhere.
"Talk"
It is a simple thing, but I had never really thought how my 4 year old brother told us apart when he was younger. Now that he is older, obviously he can tell us apart. Little Nate isn't so little anymore, he is 13 and about as tall as I am, which isn't saying much.
Nathan is turning into a pretty exceptional young man. It isn't because of sports, or because he is incredibly popular, or has the most friends out of the kids that go to his school. He is exceptional in the way that should be awarded most for kids his age, the way that he is as a student.
I remember two years ago at this time going to a 5th grade graduation ceremony for his 5th grade class, and all of the kids wanted to be president, or a dancer, or an actress, or a pro athlete. Nate stood up and said he wanted to be a doctor. Lofty goals are normal for 11 year old kids, and they don't really mean anything. A lot changes between 11 and 18. But the thing that I really remember is when they were awarding a citizenship award, something only two kids would get. And as the teacher stood up talking about this student who came in everyday with a great attitude and willingness to learn, she started to tear up. A thought crossed my mind that the kid she is talking about must really be special. So when she said "It is my honor to present this award to Na-" No way she is saying Nate, "-te Alexander," my mom let out this little gasp and started to cry, and I will admit that when my little brother walked to get that award, some dust got in my eye or my allergies kicked up all of a sudden. Nate was two out of 300 kids to get an award, and up to that point I had never been more proud of him.
Last year I got home from school, and one day my mom asked if I was going to the award ceremony again. I told her I wouldn't miss it, and asked if I could bring my girlfriend, who Nate has always liked and I thought he would like seeing her there. My mom said that it was a surpsrise that we would be there, he didn't know he was winning an award that year. It had been his first year at our local I.B school, and he did great just like we had anticipated. He brought home the reflection award, for taking in everything that he learned and kind of synthesizing it to make it a part of his life. The awards were for the top 10% of his class, something that is pretty hard to do with all of the students competing in this academically focused environment that is an IB school.
I saw on Facebook today that Nate brought home an award again today for the third year in a row. This time it was a "Most Principled" award, given for acting with "integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. He takes responsibility for his own actions and the consequences that accompany them." I am sad that I wasn't able to be there to see him get his award, and when I texted him he acted like it was no big deal that he was being recognized again. When you are 13 it is hard to see the forest because of the trees sometimes, and maybe when he gets older he will realize what a big deal winning these awards is. I was never recognized in anything for my school work, it was a miracle some years that I got through the year in one piece. I think that Nate is going to do great thing, big things, things that I won't be able to do because I am not gifted with whatever it is makes him do well in school. I am really proud of him, and I cannot wait to see the man he is going to become.
I'm proud of you Nater.
Love, Ryan
