My former student is still in Middle School but is now a fellow teacher

Throwaway post: I`ve never posted before, because my story is still recent. I am an 8th grade science teacher. I just got my job in July, giving me very little time to set up my classroom in the first week of school. I was in the middle of setting up bulletin boards when one of my students approached me. He introduced himself and asked if we were going to have a lot of homework. I didn’t even look at his name when I took his green slip from him (for one of my sections). I told him we will find out on the first day of class, and thats when he said “I cant wait to see you in class, Mrs. (MC)”. I stopped what I was doing and looked at him. I said “Oh my`!” and his smile said “you remember me”. I pulled his green slip back out from the stack of 400 and said “I want to talk to you before class`!” and we hugged. Former students don’t recognize me because I changed my hair color from red to platinum, but he looked at me like he had seen a ghost. <br><br>Fast forward 2 weeks, I gave him a pass to come in before his class started and we talked for a while. He is still the same funny guy he was before. I asked him when he graduates, and he told me he changed schools, so now he graduates in` ‘26. I asked him if he still lives in (his old city) and he said yes! And that’s when it hit me...I could see him for 3 yrs because he won’t start HS until ‘27!! I told him I was so proud of him and I can’t wait to see him everyday. <br><br>I know this post doesn’t make much sense but I’m just so proud of this little guy. He was my biggest trouble maker, but also the funniest student I had.<br><br>Anyway, thats my story of why I’m so proud of my former trouble maker. He is no longer my student, he is now a fellow teacher!!