She says she wants to be a doctor. I am impressed that a 7 year old is already assuming such a remarkable ambition. According to my limited math skills she will be out of medical school and ready to practice about the time that I will need a good doctor more than ever. I do hope she considers gerontology as a potential field of medical specialty.

My 7 year old future doctor happens to be the student I am assigned to work with this year in the BEAM program at Baccus Elementary School.

BEAM which stands for (Baccus Elementary Academic Mentors) is an educational program in the school which utilizes community volunteers and student mentors to assist students who need additional help with learning. My student this year is a cute Hispanic girl with long dark hair and mischievous brown eyes. After I read her biographical sheet this morning, I wanted to go on a search for books with medical terminology. But I resisted, and instead listened to her read aloud about a fat cat who was dealing with a rat and a bat.

As I mentioned in a blog dated September 21st, I was in the Blue Birds reading group in the first grade. Who were the Blue Birds? I can tell you that we were not considered to be future doctors of America in the eyes of our teachers. We were the low readers. (Be sure to mention that only in hushed tones.) As the blog from last month indicates, Miss Erick transformed this Blue Bird into a confident reader in the 2nd grade. I left the Blue Birds never to return again. Miss Erick is Mrs. Kreutz now. Her children are grown and she is enjoying retirement. She has left a legacy of former Blue Birds that are excelling in careers everywhere.

I have been volunteering for the BEAM program for several years now. BEAM coordinator Dana Reinke continues to be very patient with my often unpredictable schedule. As I listen to my students struggle to sound out words, I get a vision of blue birds flying off into the distance. Now I can add a new image to repertoire of daydreams. I can envision my little 7 year old girl walking into an examining room reading a medical chart. I actually like the idea of her reading my chart! When she scolds me for not eating correctly or not exercising enough I will be tempted to remind her that I taught her that vowels are long on words that end with certain letters! I suppose I will resist that temptation. Maybe I will tell her that I am glad she too left the Blue Birds. No…that is a not a good idea either. She might recommend that I be placed in an institution for mental evaluation. When she reads my medical chart, I will choose to be thankful that I had a small part in her education. I will choose to keep all other thoughts to myself.

When May rolls around in 2010, I do think I will tell my student that this Blue Bird is a doctor. (Her beautiful olive skin may turn pale when she hears that news.) I am not a medical doctor, but I do hold an academic doctorate degree. I want that young student to know that the BEAM program exists so dreams can become reality. She is not a Blue Bird. She is not a low reader. She is a future doctor. Now that Miss Erick is retired it is time for another generation to take her place. Dana Reinke is off to a good start in leaving a legacy of students that will excel in careers everywhere. Maybe Dana and I can enjoy a good conversation someday in the waiting room of our physician and former student. Why not? She says she wants to be a doctor.