I'm an author of children's and adult books, a teacher in my youth and an ambivalent corporate captive for decades. Eight years ago, I moved from the Midwest to Colorado Springs with my wife, Shirley. Upon arriving at Cheyenne Mountain, I intended to start writing about subjects of my choosing rather than at the behest of clients and occasionally pause to guest teach.

Within a month of settling in and luxuriating in views of "above the fruited plain!" to our east and "purple mountain majesties" to our west, I began writing, and when away from the laptop, spending time as a guest teacher -- sharing with young people from preschool through high school in District 12.

I have followed this regimen for the past eight years, discovering that the duality of placing words on paper alone and enjoying the company of others creates a perfect balance of yin and yang. Unlike classroom teachers who interact with a group of children for a year and then say goodbye each spring, I have the privilege and joy of engaging with young learners over an extended period as a guest teacher. Initially, I spent considerable time with preschoolers at Cañon Elementary School, developing lasting bonds with many of those energetic, empathetic and insatiably curious children.

As the years trundled by, I spent time with many of these children, marveling at their mental and physical growth while they maintained their caring hearts and infectious sense of humor. Last week, these former preschoolers graduated from sixth grade, celebrating their success in cultivating and completing their first extended educational furrow.

How could I possibly miss the graduation of these dear young old friends? I could not and did not. When I arrived at 9:45, 15 minutes before the program started in the school gymnasium, the venue was packed with an overflowing crowd of several hundred excited families and friends of the graduates. I spotted one of the few remaining seats in the back row and, with a Kleenex in hand, sat down to await the procession of graduates. As they began to parade in, my eyes filled with tears, and I quickly realized, to my alarm, that a single tissue would hardly be enough to dry my eyes.

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The program began with the nurturing and insightful principal, Lynda Henderson, greeting the graduates' parents, family members, and friends while congratulating the Class of 2025 Broadmoor Bears. Next, three honorees shared moving and humorous reflections on their years at Broadmoor. This was followed by a video that captured the perspectives and emotions of the class members. As the ribbon of memories came to a close and the diplomas were about to be presented, Eileen Lopez, one of the sixth grade teachers, held a microphone and said, "Would Mr. Tarbox please join us on stage, our students who have known him for year -- some even before they entered Broadmoor -- request that he be a part of this special occasion."

As I walked up to the stage to join the receiving line of Broadmoor staff who played instrumental roles in their lives this year -- Stacy Grace, Special Education Teacher; Mary Runkle-Cochrane, Music Teacher; Luke Millner, Physical Education Teacher; Cody Miller, Building Manager; Eileen Lopez, fellow Sixth Grade Teacher; Amy Ace; and Principal Henderson -- my only tissue dissolved in a pool of grateful tears before I reached the stage, reflecting on being part of so many lives for so many years and cherishing the joy of their friendship.

As a graduation gift, at the post-graduation pool party, I gave each child a copy of my book, "Imagine and Make Up Your Own Book," designed to promote children's creativity.

A passage in the book's preface expresses my wish for them: "There is no more satisfying experience, I am convinced, than creating something and sharing that creation with others. I hope that such creative experiences are yours for a lifetime."

Springs writer Todd Tarbox appears in the documentary, "American: An Odyssey to 1947," which connects Orson Welles' life and early career with significant moments in 1930s and 1940s American history.