This tiny little picture in no way reflects the enormity of what this man does on a daily basis.
The unbelievable amount of hours.
The sleepless nights (literally).
The many-hours-long phone calls for references with agencies and future student employers.
The creativeness in problem solving.
The agony over students who struggle, with him searching for a way to help them succeed.
The pride he has for students when they do succeed.
The thousands of text messages, emails, and phone calls.
The 24/7 access to students, so he can always help when needed.
The immense thought behind leading faculty and staff to help create better student success.
The 4:30am workouts so students can be done before they go on shift.
The frustration of needing to restart his computer 8 times so he can print.
The hundreds of recommendation letters.
The long meetings and conference calls, bucking the traditional educational system to create an even better EMS education curriculum for the entire state of Oregon.
The continual strive to make a better learning for students, even though he’s taught the material for decades.
The unbearable, tedious reports.
The running around town just to make something perfect for a student learning experience.
The thousands of hours spent in professional and instructional development, always striving to be better.
The millions of texts, emails, phone calls.
The thousands of miles travelled to license exams.
The hauling of equipment….everywhere.
The late nights and early mornings spent writing exam questions, assignments, grading, brainstorming, prepping to teach, communicating with faculty and students, and designing workouts.
The very, very late night trips to the grocery store for shopping for state exams, after having set up rooms, copied paperwork, organized stations/proctors/patients, and dealt with last minute cancellations and additions.
The verbal/emotional lashings when students are upset at themselves, but taking it out on him.
Did I mention the gazillion texts, emails, and phone calls, at all hours of the day and night, always being there for his faculty, staff, and students.
The immense energy dealing with the bureaucracy of the college to fight for his program, faculty, staff, and students.
The passion for his students, and for bettering the field of EMS.
The (literal) blood, sweat and tears that have been shed.
All of it.
All the time.
Others don’t fully understand all that you do for the program, but I do.
I see it.
I see you.
Sawubona.
Others are celebrating their graduates today, but I am celebrating you, because you helped them get there.
The Lane Community College Paramedic Program is better because of you.
….and I am so damn proud of you.