Who Sees Our Future?

As a teacher I came to be close to many, many young people. Some went on to college, some didn't. Some went on to study music in some form, some didn't.Some stayed in their hometown and others moved on to "big city" life. Some still stay in contact with me, some don't. Some of them liked me, some didn't. Each one was a different personality and had different learning strengths and needs. I learned early-on that if I was going to do my job correctly, I would need to get to know them on a much deeper level. However, this took me AWAY from my dream, which had been to complete my Master's degree and Doctoral degree and become a university choral music professor. But it never happened. I found that I didn't have the skills for that. But I did have the skills for helping kids grow up through music. Music wasn't always the subject. The real subject was 'life'. I was better at teaching that, than I was at teaching music. I am writing this to a specific friend of mine. He is a former student of mine-a very gifted, talented young man who has chosen to go into the music education field. He just hasn't found a job yet. He had a great idea for self-motivated music students in his local geographic area. He did an exemplary job of planning and organizing his idea. He covered all the bases. He included professionals in the area who were willing to be of assistance. He aligned himself with a local music organization that could and would offer their non-profit status for the good of his idea. The time came to take his well-planned idea to the people that mattered most---the local music educators. And they gave him a resounding, "Sorry, but we are not interested. We are not interested in asking/allowing our students to take on more musical responsibility." (Personally, I think they were pretty much intimidated and were a bit worried that the educator with the idea might do a better job than they were doing. But, that's just me!) My friend was devastated! He had worked so very hard. He planned well: he would emphasize what was important, he would teach what was musically fundamental and do it in a most interesting manner, he would help these fine students reach an even higher musical-performance level. And he would have done it asking NOTHING for himself. He just wanted to be teaching and be involved bringing the joy of music to young people. My dream was to become a college professor. I didn't. I became Mr. Castro--an average choral music teacher with average students who had average musical gifts. Some excelled and some stayed average. Some were even less than average. But that was OK because I was "built" to teach the average kids. My dream was to teach just gifted students and take them on 'Tour' and perform the most difficult choral works and receive standing ovations. What I couldn't see and what I couldn't know, was that even with all my talent and planning and education and drive and deep love for music, God had chosen me for talents and skills in a different area than those needed to accomplish my dream. My abilities were made for those average kids. I loved my students and what they achieved. Sometimes they performed poorly and sometimes they performed exceptionally. Most of the time, they performed somewhere in the middle. However, I am certain that they learned a lot more than the music. And they enjoyed it. And they had fun.There were many memorable moments and events: singing on the Great Wall of China, making a vocal jazz radio commercial for KOMO's Larry Nelson, receiving the 1st Place Trophy at many vocal jazz festivals, etc. But I also remember just as fondly "connecting" with kids and finding a way to help them grow and become and thrive. I was proud to be in their service. That was where my gifts were. My dream never reached fruition. Professor Castro, I will never be. However, I am certain that there are hundreds of students that experienced musical joy, personal growth and inner peace because I never reached my goal. So be it! To my saddened friend, if you are reading this, you know who you are. I expect that you will write me or call me soon. Remember, God knows what we don't know. He also knows your heart and what you desire and what you can do to be of service. I am ever so proud of the man you have become and will always be pleased to tell others that you were "one of mine." God Bless and remember, "Your time will come. Just listen for His voice--you'll hear it."