It isn’t about taking photos, is it?
It’s been quite a month. In addition to my normal duties managing technology at my school, I took on the challenge of teaching 12 high school students a 3 1/2 week intensive photography course. My good friend, Robin, and I spent all day, every day, shooting, teaching and talking about taking pictures. I’d like to say that I am a better photographer than I was at the beginning. I know that I’ve learned from Robin, the students and the professionals we’ve met. So, yeah, I am probably a better photographer than I was a few weeks ago.
The Action Photo Team in New York City
But I’ve gained so much more than photography skills in these 3 plus weeks. Robin and I have solidified an excellent friendship that I hope will remain for many, many long years to come. His adventurous nature complements my quiet cautiousness. His outgoing personality helps prod me out of my shy shell. Thanks, Robin. For being my co-teacher, my colleague, and my friend. I cannot express how happy I am that we did this. And, you know what?, we pulled this thing off pretty damn well.
What great fun it has been, sharing this adventure with these students. We’ve listened and we’ve learned, we’ve played (sometimes too rough, perhaps), but we’ve laughed so hard. I hope my students understand just a little bit about how much I care about them. Of how I want them to be so successful. To be happy, to live. And if I’ve given them a little bit of help & support along that path, I guess that I am doing what I want so much to do. It’s not about the photos, is it? Not for me.
Yours truly, with Jonathan and Margaux.
Just under my not-so-thick skin lives a lifelong summer camp counselor, and that’s the role I try to take when I am blessed with the extraordinary opportunity to be with “my” kids. I thrive on being a part of their lives, however big or small that part can or needs to be. To be included in the inside jokes, sometimes even starting them, and of being a part of the team. To be close. To be able to talk & share. Not as the teacher, not as the adult, but as a member of the group. Perhaps some of my peers would snicker at my desired role, “you’re not supposed to be their friend, you’re supposed to be their teacher.” Sure, they can do that. And some of my colleagues do that very well. But that role is not for me. My role is to be inside, in a leadership role. At least, that is the role I hope I can play and teach.
So, gang, thank you. Thank you for accepting me as a part of the team, for leaning on my shoulder and for letting me lean on yours. You don’t know how much that means to me, even if you weren’t aware that I was doing it. And though our class may be coming to an end, I hope and pray that our friendships, our laughter, our enjoyment of being with and around each other will continue. You know how to reach me. Winter, spring, summer or fall. You’ve got a friend. And I’ll come running.
Free inside joke at 8pm on Tuesday. On Wednesday, when we are done and I am on my way home, it will be too quiet.
Photos by Robin Norlén.
