Let me start off by saying I NEVER thought this would happen. I'm in my 3rd year of teaching, which means (when you add in my college training) I've had at least 7 years of being taught to avoid inappropriate relationships with students. And, beyond that, I'm not a pervert. I am completely aware that it is not okay to be sexually attracted to student. And yet...
I first met Tyler when he was a freshman in high school. I was a college senior, student-teaching in his Government classroom. I was 21, he was 15... I found him endearing, but nothing more. To be honest, he was always busting my chops, pointing out errors & basically being a cocky SOB. I graduated college, married my high school sweetheart, got hired at a nearby middle school, and frankly never thought of Tyler again.
Flash forward 3 years. My middle schoolers are attending the school district's week-long camping program, complete with overnight accomodations, environmental-based lessons, and local high school students as counselors. As the camp teachers introduce my students to their counselors, I hear "Tyler Marcus, call your cabin names, please." My head jerks up & I make eye contact with Tyler β only now, he's not a scrawny, naΓ―ve, 15-year-old freshman... He's a handsome 18-year-old senior with an athletic build. And he's smiling at me with recognition.
"Hey, don't I know you from somewhere?"
"Uh..." I was so lost in how weird this was, I couldn't think straight. Finally, my brain caught up.
"Yeah, I student-taught with Mrs. Dixon a couple years ago. Weren't you in her Honors Government?" As if I didn't know the answer already.