Have you ever wondered why you cross paths with certain people? Nick Anderson is one of those people for me. Heís a teacher at Koontz Elementary School whom I met recently when substituting for music.
I ate lunch in the cafeteria that day and choose the line closest to the door. When I got in line, there was a young gentleman standing in front of me, so I said, ěHello, how are you?î He answered back, ěFine.î After we spoke for a few minutes, he told me his name was Nick Anderson, a third- grade teacher, and it was his class that was in the lunch line. When it was my turn in line, I choose my entrČe, paid for my meal and looked for a place to sit down. Nick noticed I didnít have anyone to sit with, so he invited me to sit with him and the other third-grade teachers.
After learning I was substituting for music, Nick shared with me that he enjoys playing the piano and often writes original music for his videos and production company. I couldnít believe my luck. I had been looking for someone to make a professional video for me and wondered if Nick could help with some ideas. As we continued to talk, I became more intrigued by his story.
Nick received a sports management degree from Liberty University in Virginia and ran track while a student there. When he graduated in 2002, the economy took a downturn, so it became hard for him to find a job in his field. He finally found a part-time position at the YMCA in Gastonia as a childrenís director, but he still wanted something full time. Since he had served in the USMC Reserves while a student at Liberty, he thought law enforcement would be a natural progression.
Even though he served as a police officer for four years, he knew in his heart he still hadnít found his lifeís work. He finally realized what had brought him the most enjoyment and fulfillment was when he worked with children at the YMCA. After thinking it through, he went back to school to get his education degree from Belmont Abbey and is now working on his masterís at his alma mater, Liberty University.
Nick says all of his previous career choices have helped make him a better teacher. He loves the challenge of working with diverse personalities and desires to see every child succeed. His life experiences have broadened not only his leadership skills, but also his ability to contribute when working with fellow teachers, such as Juli A. Alfieri. She had nothing but compliments for Nick and said, ěMr. Anderson is a talented young man with a positive can-do attitude. His professional, laid-back style makes him the wonderful teacher that he is.î
Itís obvious that Nick has many talents, and each one complements the other. One of the ways he incorporates these talents is to make learning fun for children at school, while at the same time teaching them necessary skills in literacy and math. Some of his educational videos are now available on YouTube.
Again, I ask you, do you ever wonder why you cross paths with certain people? In this case, I donít have to wonder about Nick Anderson. Our paths intersected at just the right time and place for each of us. I was in need of a video, and Nick had a story to tell. If interested in more info about Nick Anderson, his videos or production company you can find him at ason79@facebook.com.

Dicy McCulloughís second book, ěTired of School,î is available on amazon.com, dicymcculloughbooks.com. and at local bookstores. Contact her at 704-278-4377.