I believe there is potential for integrating my work in the field of special education with my continuing interest in cross-cultural communication and second language acquisition, and one of my current challenges is to restructure the ESL MiniConference by highlighting the areas of overlap connecting these different activities.

ESL MINICONFERENCE: You certainly have an ambitious agenda. Where do you find the energy and motivation to develop your projects?

In his late twenties, my father quit his job as a high school principal and stopped working on his doctorate in educational administration, in order to return to school and take the necessary classes to apply to medical school. I was born the year he graduated with his M.D. from the University of Kansas. He went on to specialize in urology and open the first urology practice in Great Bend, Kansas, in 1967.

In her mid forties, my mother lost over 100 pounds in Weight Watchers, started playing the bass violin (which she had played in high school) in a local orchestra at Barton County Community College, and began taking lessons towards her private pilot's license with instructor Bud Pinkston at the Great Bend airport.

In her early forties, my sister, Beth, earned a Masters of Business Administration and shifted gears in her career as a result. In his fifties and into his sixties now, my brother John has greatly increased the frequency of his international travels as a key aspect of his global consulting activity in the field of art restoration and conservation.

In her forties, my wife, Meribel, returned to college and completed her B.A. in Modern Languages at Kansas State University, including an A in philosophy and an A in college algebra; now she is preparing to study for her masters degree.

My four children and two grandchildren are also doing amazing things and boldly facing new challenges at their ages, ranging from five weeks to 34 years old.

My mother's sister, Aunt Lillian, and her husband, Uncle Max, have used their retirement years to travel all over the world taking courses to increase their understanding and global awareness.

I could cite dozens more people I know who are taking on challenges, enthusiastically embracing life, and continuing to make a positive difference in the world at ages when a person might be forgiven for resting on his or her laurels. I gain energy and my spirit is strengthened by the examples of friends and family who are living their lives fully and not taking the miracle of life and our time on earth for granted.

ESL MINICONFERENCE: In one of your early articles on the ESL MiniConference, "Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped For," you suggested there was a spiritual aspect to the the ESL/EFL profession. Can you say something about spiritual aspects of your current activities and projects?

That article in December of 2001 was inspired by the life and words of George Harrison, who had recently passed away. According to those who accompanied him at the time of his death, Harrison's last wishes were for there to be peace and love in the world.

I have been impressed on the occasions when I have seen teachers whose primary inspiration is their religious faith and the belief they can improve the lives of their students by sharing that faith, either directly through faith-based lessons or indirectly through the example of how they themselves live their lives and treat others.

In recent days, I have come across several quotes related to finding meaning and purpose in life, and discovering the strength to persevere in the face of difficulties.

The German writer and poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, said it in another way: "Whatever you think you can do, or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it."

An ESL MiniConference Interview
DrRobbScott@gmail.com

2016 ESL MiniConference Online

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