By Scott Shephard

I shouldn't admit it but as passionate as I was about teaching and as much as I enjoyed it for close to 35 years, I don't miss it. For me I think the problem was that I never felt like I was quite prepared enough, never quite disciplined enough and therefore never quite good enough.

But then I find a photo like this, which records two of my AP European history students standing face to face with Van Gogh's Olive Trees at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and I realize that there are many things I do miss. Among other things, I miss the company of good people like these two, I miss the exchange of ideas and I miss having the opportunity from time to time to introducing young people to things I have loved all my life. Such as a Van Gogh or a Rembrandt or a Chuck Close.

I took this photo in 2004. That's more than a decade ago. But when I look at this and the others I took on this day, it's like I'm back there again enjoying the company, the questions and the discoveries of my young students again. I'll always miss that.

Canon 20D 1/100s f/2.2 ISO800 50mm (35mm eq:80mm)