The "A Friend From The Past" Story

Ryan and LDub.  Photo by Camille.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in the living room talking with Ryan who was a high school student of mine as well as the photographer and editor-in-chief of the high school yearbook for me and now a good friend.  Ryan graduated from Manheim Township High School in 1998 and then after graduating from college, used his multi-faceted tech skills to become a well-respected member of the Google Company.  I'm sure if you are reading this on any type of device, you naturally have heard of Google.  It was just about a year ago that I contacted Ryan to asked if he could find out anything about the new contacts that are being developed by Google that will monitor the blood sugar of Diabetes patients.  My granddaughter has Juvenile Diabetes and I'm sure she would be a great candidate for the contacts.  Ryan was disappointed he couldn't tell me anything, but promised to make a visit to see me when he returned to Lancaster from his home in San Francisco, CA.  Well, I just posed the question to him one more time and he was sorry to tell me that he and Google have just parted ways.  Wasn't forced to, but didn't like the politics that were part of Google.  Did tell me once more that the contact lens are a part of Google that is kept pretty secretive.  We talked about what is next for him and he said he is taking a break until the end of January and will start at a software company at that time.  Didn't know which one yet, since quite a few are after him after they learned of his departure from Google.  He told me he had a few choices and that one is only 15 minutes from his house, but has yet to agree on a title for him.  He's confident he will find something that will be to his liking very soon.  In the meantime he is enjoying his life.  My youngest granddaughter walked into the living room and sat next to me so I introduced her to Ryan who showed an instant interest in what she was holding.  She showed him the iPad mini that she had just received for Christmas.  He said that he hopes to buy one soon and that  since he has left Google has discarded his old phone and bought a new Apple iPhone 6.  Found out he also has a new Apple desktop as well as a MacAir laptop.  While at Google he was used to the more conventional PCs, but appreciates the fact that his new phone will turn on every time he needs it.  Told me that his old Android phone, with all the Apps that he was using, at times wouldn't work for him.  He really likes the Apple products and hopes in his new job to be able to use them.  Ryan was a constant presence in my classroom as a student.  He lived with his mother and sister, who was also a student at MTHS, but spent as much time with me as he could while in school.  Found out a year or two ago through his mother that he considered me as a replacement for his father.  I was flattered when I found that out.  When Ryan was a senior in high school and my yearbook editor, he proposed a plan whereby every candid in the yearbook would have identification as to the names in the photo.  A huge job, but one that he said he would like to try.  When I retired from teaching the year after he graduated and began the job as advisor to the Middle School, and eventually adding the Intermediate School, I took it upon myself to make sure that all photos were properly identified.  I liked Ryan's idea so much and realized the importance of his proposal so that students will be able to ID photos years from now.  I'm sure he will be a success no matter were he goes or what he attempts in the future.  He an extremely talented and knowledgable person who knows exactly what he wants from life.  I'm so glad I had a chance to know and work with him in high school.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.