The Road through Kansas City, Part 5

Anybody that has questions about the potential of our young people needs only to witness the demonstration of sheer tenacity, unparalleled focus and determination that was displayed at today’s competitions. I saw four-member teams construct fully operational rooms with working plumbing and electricity, complete with drywall, brick walls and wood siding. I was fixated by ‘kids’ racing from police cars with guns drawn in pursuit of ‘suspects.’ I watched a young lady produce scones, biscuits, muffins, pie crust, dinner rolls and loaf bread with the grace of a veteran baker and the composure of a ballerina. I stood by as a trio of cooks and bakers discussed the virtues of their community service to an audience of folks much older than the presenters, answer questions with effortless composure and manage to keep a dry brow despite the pressures of competition. And this was all accomplished by young people, no older than eighteen. Not in my life, would I have ever felt prepared enough to face the challenges of what I saw these kids go through.
I rest this evening, an inspired old guy. I look back on the day as an intimidated teacher, questioning my own fortitude to know more than the students that so methodically demonstrated their best. I overly smile with the anticipation of basking in the thunderous applause that will come the way of the victorious as they cross the stage before 8,000 people at the awards’ ceremony tomorrow evening. My muscles ache here and there from shuttling ovens, baking supplies and throb a bit from the occasional fast-paced jaunt across the competition floor to deliver forgotten supplies. And, I ache just a little knowing that this is the end, beyond graduation, beyond the last day of school for many of my students. We part ways, this team and I, on Saturday. We’ll have tomorrow.