I’m a teacher and a writer, my experience practicing my crafts goes back a good many years, and I still teach and write most every day.
But before you mentally turn me out to pasture, please allow me to tell you a little story.
I had accepted a teaching position at a school that will always be dear to my heart – The Schilling School for Gifted Children in Cincinnati, Ohio. One day, shortly after I began my tenure at Schilling, I gave out with one of the off-the-wall statements I am – for good or ill – somewhat known for:
“One of my goals,” I pronounced, “is to become Schilling’s first 80-year-old faculty member.”
I was at the time a couple years short of 60.
The words were hardly out of my mouth when one of my students offered a snarky comment with a friendly gotcha twist: “Mr. Overbeck, in your case that’s a kind of short-term goal, isn’t it?”
That was some years ago, and I’m getting closer.
I have kept in touch with that student, and I am planning… Oh I am planning!
This, of course, is all in fun.
But what is serious is that I am a writing mentor. I still work every day – one-on-one or with small groups – allowing and nurturing students as they develop their writing voices and skills.
I’m always available for a free consult at: johnoverbeck42@gmail.com, and you can catch my column every Thursday after 8:00 a.m.
Thursday morning then…
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