I hope this letter finds you well, and that those of you who are now back in your classrooms/shops are seeing a good start to the school year. For myself, I find this to be a year of change and reflection. After teaching for 17 years in the same shop space, I now find myself in a different lab area. To be honest, it’s going to take a while to get acclimated into my new environment. The very real change, though, is the loss of one of my colleagues. Levi Shaw lost his battle with cancer a short time ago, and it has been a bitter pill to swallow.
I first met Levi in my classroom back in the 2012/2013 school year. He was a student in my class here at Pickens Tech, and the main reason I remember him so well is that he was the first and only student I’ve ever had that showed up sporting a mohawk hairstyle. I recall thinking to myself he was either going to be trouble or a very good student. Well, let me tell you, Levi didn’t disappoint. In fact, just the opposite, he was an outstanding student. He absorbed information like a sponge and had great hands-on skills. In our many conversations I learned that he fought cancer as a kid. He told me that because, back at that time, I was fighting my 3rd cancer diagnosis and had just come back to work after an especially difficult surgery and recovery.
Well, he went on to graduate and took a job at a dealership. We didn’t lose touch. He would often call or text to get my advice on the latest challenge that ended up in his bay at work. Eventually I asked him if he’d be interested in a part-time evening teaching position, and he eagerly accepted as he and his fiancé were saving to buy a house. That part-time job ended up in a full-time position for him that he held until his health forced him to take leave. Levi had come full circle at our school, and he made his way into my heart more than most. I still remember getting the news that his cancer had come back. Boy, did that hit hard! It’s still difficult, but I’m blessed because he made a difference in my own journey as well as the many students and staff he impacted while he was here. His infectious smile still lives on here at Pickens and shall long remain in my memory of him. Rest in peace my friend.