"well, i believe that the children are our future ..."

this morning, i am in the office, having just registered the last Model U.N. participant in the Pit downstairs. that's one of the best things about working here - spending time with these kids. i walked in this morning to the loggia where all the chairs were meeting to discuss this first ever Latin School Model United Nations and received a very warm welcome.

one of our '03 alums stood up to greet me. "sean, how are you?!" i asked, hugging him. "you look great!" "hi," he said, blushing a bit, "you look good, too." what's nice about that comment coming from a 18-year-old boy is that it's in no way about how i really look; it's about learning to use these words and phrases adults use. had i told him he "looked good" last year, i feel an awkward exchange would have followed. but there's something about coming back home, coming back to the place where you were known, and being told, "wow, you've only gotten better!" that alleviates any of the anxiety you were nursing at the prospect of going home. i love him very sweetly.

ruthie, an exuberant and affectionate sophomore, ran up to hug me and tell me how much she loves me. ruthie is like this. i know she throws the word around with everyone, and i know her peers often feel overwhelmed by her clingy, bubbly nature, but how many people do you know who are willing to say they love someone? how many people do you know who hug, hug, hug? whether or not she notices anyone's annoyance with her, i'm glad she presses on. she reminds me of will ferrell in "elf." she just wants love. and you've got to love her for that.

miles, a rascally junior who got into trouble more often than once on the trip to england i had an opportunity to chaperone last year, has matured ... well, a bit, since then. miles has a hard time sitting still, runs off at the mouth too much, isn't innately gentle or kind or considerate, and honestly, possesses few of the qualities i'd ever want in a son. BUT miles isn't done yet. he's gonna be something. he's gonna be one of those boys who surprises you at your 20-year-reunion, who has mellowed in his manner, but whose zest, whose passions haven't yielded any of their drive. he may be an awkward looking kid now, but you can start to see glimpses of this manly face, this strong jaw, this wide smile, these glimmering eyes. you wait, i guarantee miles will be a name you'll someday recognize.

and there's julia, a junior who i see a little of my high school self in. seemingly quiet and polite and focused, she could possibly go unnoticed, except that when she lets you in to her own world, she's breathtaking. such poise, such grace, such wild love of life. high school won't be her time to shine, no. god's just working on her till she's ready.

richie, the younger sophomore brother of one of my favorite '03 alums, robbie, has an attitude. he's starting to realize that he's gonna be the real good-looking brother, the one who can have his pick of any of the girls, the one who's gonna go to the best schools because he's worked hard to earn it. i like richie. i wouldn't have liked him in HS, but when you grow up, you realize HS boys really never knew anything. they were just figuring life out for themselves, too. richie's gonna be a fun one to watch grow up.

finally, there's geli, pronounced "HELL-y," short for angelica. geli is a sophomore, a beautiful latina, short in stature, smart and determined and kind and curious and interested and thoughtful. though ruthie spearheaded this first-ever LSMUN, geli was the one to put it all together when ruthie got too busy. and still, geli gives all credit to ruthie. have you ever seen such humility in a 15-year-old? she's the kind of person who inspires you to make the world a better place. her kind of character, her attitude MUST be met with only the best. she deserves it.

well, it's 11:00 a.m. and i'm off to sprint to search for a new phone. i kind of wish i didn't have to go. i kind of wish we were at a boarding school and i could hang out with these kids forever. i can't wait till they're in charge of the world. they're gonna make it good.