George Washington Carver is another new school five miles outside of Downtown Dubuque. When I arrived at the school, the students were being off loaded from buses. Mrs. Duehr, the coordinator of the event, and I nearly slammed into each other as I entered the school office. Mrs. Duehr introduced to me to the principal, Mrs. Stephans, and after a nice discussion about the school, Mrs. Stephans politely dismissed herself because she already had a student in her office that needed a gentle reminder about school policy.

After the K-2 students took their seats on the polished gym floor, I got them excited by calling on students to tell me their dreams. We had a young girl who hoped when she grew up that she could live with the monkeys. A young boy who hoped when he grew up he could become a cookie. One young girl who hoped to live on a farm and one young boy who hoped that his mom and dad would have another 4 children because he wanted to have 5 brothers in all. And then there was a young girl adorned in glitter who wanted to be a rock star and another young girl who wanted to become a mermaid. After my speech about living out their dreams I was nearly tackled by a flock of students who wanted a group hug. I am always touched by the energy level and curiosity that our K-2 students hold inside at their age. It's as if when I allow them to share their dreams it's like I am allowing them to confess their most intimate thoughts to their fellow classmates. Unlike Santa Claus who offers children presents, my speech allows them to share their future gift - which I believe is more special than any material possession.

I then had a young boy in grades 3-5 who outscreamed the young ladies to win the Iowa Cubs hat. He sat there politely until I asked for his help with the campout skit. The students were troubled by Jake socking my daughter, Erin, in the gut when she was eight and wondered if the story was true. When I told them that it was true, they asked why Jake would do such a thing?

Instead of explaining my interpretation on why Jacob socked Erin, I let the students know that Erin and I focused on the more important issue, which was to develop Erin's baseball talent so she would be considered a skilled baseball player - and in the end that was the more important issue at hand.

My day with the students at George Washington Carver was met with enthusiasm and I especially enjoyed the warmness and openness of the students who came away with a better understanding of the price of personal sacrifice and what it would take for them to live out their dreams. Nice job Carver Cougars! You hit a home run in my book.