A Zest For Learning

Senior Matt Farag has a “zest for learning,” today’s Gatehouse News Service Reports. Diagnosed at 6 with autism, Matt

…..will browse the encyclopedia and history books in his St. Charles home, memorizing notable facts and dates on history, dinosaurs and insects. Matt also can name each of the presidents and vice presidents in order and their middle names.

My son Charlie doesn’t do this—-reading’s been a long-time challenge for him—-but he too has a deep-running “zest for learning.” The word “student” comes from the Latin studere, “to be eager, to have zeal”—-and no better example of true students than Matt and Charlie, if I may say so.