It was a week ago tonight, about this time, that I was sharing dinner with a younger crowd.  Yes, they thought they just might like to share an hour or two with me.  I’m talking about high school juniors and seniors. 
Surprised?  Yes, me too.  It’s been a decade, (okay, a little more), since I was in their shoes thinking just of myself, I’m sure.  But, not these kids.  Chris Holley, Amanda Stanley, Logan White and Brandi Cole are Health Occupation Students of America at David Crockett High School in Washington County, TN. 
How did I get to know them?  Through the Autism Walk they helped spearhead in February.  That was the first sign I was dealing with kids who are thinking more about how to help the world around them than they are of themselves.  I followed the progression of the planning of their walk.  They made more than one appearance on News Channel 11 trying to get YOU, our viewers, to think more about the struggle of others. 
After weeks of coverage of the planning and the event itself, which brought in more than 25 hundred dollars for Autismspeaks.org, I got an invitiation.  Selena, please come to dinner with us.  We want to thank you.  Thank me?  We should be thanking these kids for a lesson in generosity.  So, it was dinner at Cheddars and a gift card. 
Five years covering events in the Tri-Cites, involving children and adults, and a thank you comes from an unlikely source.  It is unexpected.  I’m just doing my job.  I love it.  But, it’s not one you do for thanks.  Doing the right thing doesn’t mean doing it for thanks.  I tried to explain that to them.  It was thrown right back in my face.  “We’re not thanking you to get something in return,” they said. “It’s just the right thing to do.”
I tried to spend the evening picking their brains.  What do you want to do?  Where are you going to school?  You know, asking quesitons like reporters do.  Guess where the conversation led?  “Selena, how can we do something to thank our teacher, Mrs. Lori Grabner?” Yes, it truly was an evening of thinking of others. 
At News Channel 11, we have not run our Educator of the Week segment this school year.  But, I can pass the message on here.
Mrs. Grabner, your students appreciate you so much they’re willing to spend part of their evening speaking of your greatness and your dedication to students.  They’ve been worried about your health.  They credit you for helping them hold it together as they stressed out over their Autism Walk, the first of it’s kind in our region.  They think you deserve more respect than you get.  And, they want it said out loud. 
Mrs. Grabner, you are clearly one of the adults who have guided these impressive students, these young adults, down the right path.  Lucky for me I was able to cross paths with them, too.