A much-needed pick-me-up.
Blog followers may remember Yoon Lee, the high school student from Seattle, Washington who contacted me last June just prior to visiting Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge with his parents. I was unaware that he’d been following my blog for two years and in his email he thanked me for inspiring him in his bird photography journey, and by implication his scholastic endeavors which lean strongly in the direction of environmental studies and birds.
Yoon Lee’s email was a real pick-me-up for me personally, for reasons I explained in this blog post on June 19, 2022. Please follow the link to read that post (and Yoon Lee’s original email) again to provide context for the rest of today’s post.
At 7:30 last night, after yet another day of being down in the dumps while being confined at home by surgery recovery and poor weather and light for bird photography, I heard from Yoon Lee once again. This time he provided an update on how his trip to Bear River went and recent developments in his academic career. The response from my readers to my original post about Yoon Lee was so enthusiastically positive I thought many of you would be interested in what he had to say.
Midge “tornadoes” at Bear River MBR
In his email he mentioned being bothered by insects at the refuge. This is an older photo of midge “tornadoes” at Bear River. The midges were so thick in the air I couldn’t get my lens to focus on the car. Midges can be incredibly intimidating psychologically but they don’t bite or sting. These days I rarely, if ever, see midge tornadoes because of the receding Great Salt Lake but Yoon Lee’s biggest problem at the refuge was mosquitoes.
You can imagine how delighted I was to learn that Yoon Lee is following through with his original intention to pursue environmental and bird-related subjects in college and there isn’t a better place to do it than Cornell University, home of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and a host of highly respected environmental offerings.
At the risk of making this post more about me than I intended, I have a confession to make. In a world increasingly dominated by much younger people, like many folks my age (75) I’ll admit to wondering if my life, and any influence I might have, are becoming increasingly irrelevant, even obsolete.
My correspondence with Yoon Lee has reassured me to some degree and for that, this old biology and zoology teacher is grateful.
Ron
Note: A photo of Yoon Lee can be seen here.
Cornell? WOW! What a gift of knowledge to know where one of your students is going…directly because of your classroom. Professor, you can’t deny it. You were teaching above and beyond. Thank you for that.
This is great, Ron. I am sure you were a great teacher, in fact you still are a great teacher!
Sometimes all it takes is one great teacher/role model to encourage a student to take a life path. When I was in high school, I focused on sports and not school; I was a poor student in math and science. In Junior College, I had a math teacher, Chris Barker, who changed my attitude and gave me confidence. I went on to get my BS, MS, and Ph.D. in Physics — all because of one teacher. Yes, this can happen, and I am sure you were the catalyst for many students to pursue fields in the biological/ecological sciences.
And this is why we teach. Ron, you are still making young people’s lives better and brighter even as a retired teacher. 💜
I read a couple of Yoon’s articles and am blown away by the maturity in the words.
He writes well, doesn’t he Marty. Thank you.
This young man is not just incredibly thoughtful and talented —he must be clairvoyant! Contacting you (again) at a time when you’re feeling down in the dumps, recounting his experience (and ambitions) he may not have had but for your blog, gave you that little jolt that reassures you your own life’s work has meaning — what a gift! And I am delighted for you, and very happy for him that he’s found his path at such a young age.
Imagine what the world can gain from one who so clearly describes the dangers of our present course and sets out to “be the change.” I may yet die hopeful for that to happen.
Chris, I loved your entire comment but especially your last two sentences.
Today’s post and all the comments have been a ray of sunshine on a typically gray western Washington day. Thanks for sharing the update from Yoon Lee. Oh, and I clicked on all the links today. Time well spent.
“Oh, and I clicked on all the links today”
Good to know, Lyle – especially after you ignored the link to a rap song in yesterday’s post… 🙂
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL.
Thanks, EC.
There is nothing more rewarding for a anyone who works with young people than hearing about the impact you may have had them. It is a pick me up you should much enjoy. It does help make one’s life a little more meaningful. Knowing how rewarding it is, I have encouraged my own children to acknowledge those who have made a differnce in their lives at some moment. How wonderful for both you and him
“I have encouraged my own children to acknowledge those who have made a differnce in their lives at some moment”
Good advice for all of us with children, Catherine.
Loved reading this, and all the comments! I, too, am a retired teacher – art, ceramics. Thanks,
“Loved reading this”
Good to know, Barbara. Thanks.
This is such a great ongoing story. Thanks for this and the previous blog post about Yoon. It is really nice to see Yoon pursuing his interests with such passion. And also nice to hear of the delight and reassurance you are receiving from this. This is some nice payback for the delight and education that your blog brings to all of your followers.
Much appreciated, Bill.
Thank you, Ron, for the lovely, uplifting post! I followed your link to the original post about Yoon Lee’s email and then the link to his photo. In the Tatler was a lovely article written by Yoon Lee entitled Bird Watching At Home. I am so impressed with this young man. Not only was he inspired by your blog and photography he has pursued his interest to further his education. There is no better way to choose a career than to turn your passion into your life’s work. Good Fortune Yoon Lee. May you always love nature and photography.
Melanie, I wish Yoon the same good fortune. I have a strong feeling that he’ll be highly successful in whatever he attempts to do.
Much older than you, there is nothing more gratifying to me than finding out I had a positive effect on a younger person’s life, or even their day. There is another heartwarming link on Yoon Lee’s website recording an interview he conducted with an amateur photographer about her sighting of a very rare Red-flanked Bluetail this past June in Seattle: https://tatler.lakesideschool.org/3706/life-culture/host-of-rare-red-flanked-bluetail-shares-her-story/
Thanks, Burrdoo. I’ll check out the link.
WOW! Grinning ear to ear! What a wonderful young man letting you know what your positive influence has been and continues to be. 🙂 Lets us all know some ARE paying attention and there is hope. 🙂
I finally had to reconcile my SS “name” and given name with how fussy they’re getting on ID’s. They look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them what’s an birth certificate wasn’t required on SS when I got it at a much later date….. 😉
Judy, when my mother took me to the post office in Cut Bank to open my SS account when I was a still a young kid she filled out the form by calling me “Ronnie”. It’s never caused me a significant problem, even though I’ve expected it to.
My problem has been DMV required a birth certificate to get and license. Worked well with only minor annoyances until recent years particularly when one medical establishment had my birth name and another the one on my SS – a problem getting records between them……… 😉
Very interesting and rewarding post Ron. Yoon Lee could not have chosen a better school than Cornell for what she wants to pursue. Really appreciated your input and thoughts at the end. I think in general young people today ignore or even scoff at advice given by those of our generation, but on the other hand I think if the advice is coming from a learned person about a specific subject, such as with you and Yoon, it is accepted and often even welcomed.
I join in wishing Yoon the very best in her educational and vocational pursuits.
I am referring to Yoon as female here assuming she is Korean. I knew a young woman named Yoon while working with Korean Airlines at LAX years back. Interesting though that at least back then all the young workers employed at their LAX operation used American names such as Susan, Nancy, etc.
Thanks, Everett. I have the same confidence in Yoon as you do.
Yoon Lee also has an article about his experience and concerns at the website, the school newspaper, at the link to his picture. It’s concise and well worth reading, y’all.
Thanks for the suggestion, Cheryl.
I am so thrilled that you have received this solid validation for your life’s
work ! I want to encourage your readers to VOICE appreciation to those
teachers who inspire your children and grandchildren. To this day, I cherish
the letter I received from the mother of a challenged student of mine telling
me that my encouragement had changed the course of his life–she sent it
after the school year was over ( very appropriate timing ! )–I never would have
guessed that was the case had she not made that effort. Yoon Lee is bound
to make a positive impact in the course of his life and it will be thanks in
good part to your unselfish dedication…..onward to Cornell !
” I want to encourage your readers to VOICE appreciation to those
teachers who inspire your children and grandchildren”
I second your suggestion, Kris.
Thanks for the update, Ron. How nice to hear back from someone you’ve helped along their way in life. Good for Yoon Lee, and good for you!
Thank you, Cathy..
In a sense, I envy Yoon Lee. It was years after I’d finished graduate school that I realized my favorite professor also had been one of the most influential in my life; his imprint was everywhere. One day, decades later, I decided to call him and tell him so. When I called, I learned he had died that very day. That taught me an important lesson: one that Yoon Lee clearly has learned. If someone’s contributed to your life, tell them so, before its too late. I wish my prof had known how I felt, and I’m glad you know how Yoon Lee regards you and your influence.
“When I called, I learned he had died that very day.”
Wow Shoreacres, what unfortunate timing.
When I was in college one of my professors died unexpectedly at home. Believe it or not, he was a botany professor, and his name was Dr. Flowers.
Wow, Ron!! What a post! I read all of it & at the end of Yoon Lee my mind thought this “A voice in the wilderness.”
Thank you, Jo Ann.
Ron, as a retired Biology prof, I can really relate to your feelings as you read Yoon Lee’s piece, and your pieces about him. Even though I don’t know Yoon, I still feel a sense of pride that this is the life path he has chosen. Like Kaye, I totally agree that this is the greatest validation an educator can receive.
Thank you for sharing this encouragement in the face of the events happening at Great Salt Lake.
Also I send my commiserations and encouragement to you as you traverse the conditions following your surgery, and wishes for a better New Year. Hang in there!
Thanks very much, Tony. I think you have to be a teacher to fully understand the satisfaction of seeing positive results from students. And it’s so gratifying when they acknowledge it, even years later. Perhaps especially years later….
What a beautiful story Ron. How wonderful it is to see your work manifest itself in such a tangible and enduring way. I think most people in the later years of life wonder about such things. At 68, I sure do. For every story like this one there are many more that you will never know about. Some of these stories may be large like this one, but many others will be small, but nevertheless impactful. They are out there. I have no doubt that students of yours have been influenced by your efforts, and it will forever change the way they see the world. I know I have had teachers, who I have lost track of, that if I had the chance, I would tell them how much I appreciate what I learned, and how it has enriched my life. I am not a teacher per se, but I have had people (friends or family) that have come up to me and said how much they appreciate something I said or done many years ago, and how much it meant to them. Often times I cannot even remember the event. It takes many years for people to reach a stage of life, like we are now, to both look back and appreciate what other people have done for us, and to wonder if we have done likewise for others. Rest assured, as a teacher, there are thousands of people out there whose lives you have touched and forever changed, be it in a big way or small. You have been lucky enough to see just one of the bigger stories. Let that be the indicator and evidence of all else.
Very much appreciated, Michael.
The teacher that inspired me to go into the life sciences was a comparative anatomy teacher in my sophomore year at Palomar Jr. College in CA. To this day I regret not thanking him personally for his positive influence on me.
Ronnie, this post made my day too! When I clicked on the link to the photo of Yoon Lee, I was not in the least surprised—–he is just as I imagined him to be while reading your post. And his article about the GSL is so well written that I too have a glimmer of hope that some good work is being done in schools in spite of the dire descriptions of the state of public education. And I can certainly see why Cornell would want him. Thanks for sharing this.
Well I guess I must revise a bit, since his school is not a public school. Ah well. I do hope that there are also some students like Yoon in public schools as well.
“his article about the GSL is so well written”
Sue, I was hoping you’d see this post and Yoon Lee’s article. As a retired English teacher (and a very good one, as I can attest to after spending so much time in your classroom over the years) it’s folks like you that are largely responsible for students who write well.
We had a good run, back when teachers were supported and encouraged to do good work and given independence to a degree apparently missing today.
Does it bother you that I call you “Ronnie” when I reply? You’ll always be Ronnie to me!
“Does it bother you that I call you “Ronnie” when I reply?”
Not in the least. It warms my heart, actually. You and Larry B. were/are the only friends I have that call me Ronnie and from you two I take it as a sign of endearment.
On the other hand, my medical records are under Ronnie (because my Social Security account is also) so when I have doctor appointments I always correct them and tell them to call me Ron instead of Ronnie. Did it again yesterday at my dermatologist’s office.
This young man is the most validation an educator can receive. It just points out to me (I was teacher, too) what an outstanding teacher you are and were.
Your words give me hope and warms my heart.
Take Care,
Kaye
You ‘get it”, Kaye. Thanks for reporting your reaction.