S P R I N G 2 0 2 4 / W O R K F O R M E 49
of that, and even if you're angsty
and don't like what they're trying
to do, just be open to accepting
that sometimes you need disci-
pline in your life."
Mayfield says there's nothing
more satisfying for a teacher than
seeing former students succeed.
"I'm proud of Josh and other stu-
dents like him," he says. "That's
among the greatest rewards for
an educator, to know their former
students are doing well because
that's what we want them to do."
But he's also had times when
his efforts have fallen short. As
a first-year teacher in North
Carolina, he tried talking to and
helping a student who had be-
havioral issues.
"A year later I got a letter
from him saying he had moved
to Florida and was in jail," May-
field says. "He says he had made
some bad mistakes, but wanted
me to know he appreciated all I
had tried to do. Sometimes you
don't succeed."
n
HOW
ARE
YOU?
HOW
ARE
YOU?
Josh Hamilton, discusses his
research into pancreatic cancer
collagen with his high school
mentor, Dr. Rad Mayfield.
T e c h n o l o g y
P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D
