I remember walking into a Tech class (I think it was a grade 9 class) a few years ago. I believe I was grabbing some photocopies in the computer room. There were very few kids I knew (I hadn't taught the Tech kids) but there was one guy who caught my eye. He was quite tall. He was dressed well. He had these VERY stylish glasses on. And - most noticeably - he had this amazing smile. He had the sort of grin where you look once and think "I like this guy. He seems like a good / nice kid".
As you've inferred by now, this was Maximilian.
But I didn't know it at the time! In fact, he left King George the following year (to do the TREK Outdoor Education program at Prince of Wales). But then, last year, that same smiling face showed up in my PreCalculus 11 class. I recognized him immediately. And, proving that first impressions are often correct, Maximilian turned out to be a truly "good guy".
There is so much to like about Maximilian. He has a fantastic sense of humour and is always quick with a laugh. He is a hard worker and shows great determination; you should have seen how many hours he spent preparing for the PreCalculus 11 Final... and (happily) it paid off! He is thoughtful and warm towards others. C'mon, admit it, you love Maximilian just like I do. How COULDN'T you?!?
One thing I will never forget about Maximilian is his hand-writing. It's hard to describe but it's big and kind of blocky. He seems to write with a really dark pencil all the time. And some of the notation is very unique (like his aborted square root signs). Maybe he'll allow me to post a sample here. Kind of weird, but I think his handwriting kind of matches his personality: big, bold, confident... and a little different (in a GOOD way)!
I'm so glad you returned to King George, Maximilian (and even happier that you joined my class for the past two years). Thanks for all your hard work, for your genuine gratitude when I provide you with assistance, and for the many laughs we have shared. I honestly think you are one of the "coolest kids" (if not in the stereotypical sense) that I have ever taught. May you never lose your warm, charismatic, gentle way! All the best to you!