I was a hyper kid in school and the teacher suggested to my mom

When Devon Sawa said, “I was a hyper kid in school and the teacher suggested to my mom she needed to do something with me,” he was not merely recalling a childhood anecdote—he was revealing a universal truth about the nature of youthful energy and the power of guidance. His words echo across generations, a reminder that within every restless child burns a potential that, when properly channeled, can illuminate the world. What many call hyperactivity may not be a flaw, but a spark—one that, without direction, can burn aimlessly, yet with care and wisdom, can become the fire of purpose.

The teacher’s suggestion was not a condemnation, but an act of insight. The ancients would have called such a moment paideia—the recognition that education is not the taming of the young, but the shaping of their natural energy into something noble. The child who cannot sit still, who bursts with curiosity and passion, is often the one destined to move mountains later in life. Devon Sawa, who would go on to become a celebrated actor, found his path because someone saw that his energy needed form, not suppression. This is the essence of all great mentorship: to look at chaos and see the possibility of creation.

Throughout history, there have been countless souls who began as the “hyper child” of their age. Leonardo da Vinci could not be confined by the lessons of his time—his curiosity leapt from painting to anatomy, from architecture to flight. His teachers might have despaired of his scattered focus, yet from that boundless energy came the Renaissance itself. Thomas Edison, restless and impatient, was once called “addled” by his schoolmaster, but his mother refused to let that judgment define him. She took his education into her own hands, nurturing his curiosity—and the light bulb, the phonograph, and modern invention itself were born. Such stories reveal a great truth: what society labels as disorder is often the seed of genius awaiting cultivation.

There is also a tender truth in Sawa’s words about the role of a mother’s faith. When his teacher said she “needed to do something with him,” it was not discipline that was required, but direction—and his mother, instead of silencing his energy, chose to honor it. Here lies a lesson for all parents, teachers, and mentors: do not rush to correct what is different. Instead, learn to listen to the rhythm of each soul. Every child is a river; some flow gently, others thunder wildly through the canyons of life. The task is not to dam the current, but to guide it toward its destiny.

The meaning of Sawa’s reflection goes beyond childhood; it speaks to all stages of life. Each of us carries that same raw energy—the restless urge to act, to explore, to do. When unrecognized, it can turn into frustration or self-doubt. But when nurtured, it becomes creativity, drive, and purpose. The lesson, then, is to recognize that restlessness is often the soul’s way of asking for direction. The wise do not crush their passions into silence; they learn to discipline them into art.

In this, we see the timeless dance between energy and guidance. The teacher represents the voice of wisdom, calling for order. The mother represents love, offering belief. The child represents life itself, full of chaos and fire. When these three forces meet in harmony, something beautiful emerges—a destiny realized. Every artist, scientist, and leader owes their greatness not to perfection, but to the delicate balance between wild energy and wise direction.

So let this be the teaching drawn from Devon Sawa’s memory: do something with your energy. If you are restless, do not curse your spirit—train it. If you see restlessness in another, do not label it—guide it. For energy, like lightning, can destroy or illuminate depending on the hand that wields it. Every hyper child, every untamed dreamer, carries within them the potential for greatness. The task of life, for both the teacher and the student, is to turn that boundless motion into meaningful creation—until the fire that once disrupted becomes the light that leads.