A Driven Young Man

Let me preface this post by acknowledging that all parents think their child is exceptional. That being said I have examples of my perception of Justin's abilities.
As a very young child he was labeled gifted. He attended college classes in the summers between kindergarten and first grade and first grade and second grade. He was a bit hyperactive so he only enjoyed the parts of the classes when they could go outside. He wasn't a sitter...ever.
He was also a perfectionist. When he set his mind on something he would give it everything he had. 
I wrote the other day about his dedication to family and to soccer. 
As he got older he set his mind to being a stand up comedian. He was very good at it. He performed at the Ramada Inn for several weeks until he succumbed to the pressure of being funny on cue and not feeling he was the best. He competed against himself.
His first MOS in the Army was a Medic. His knowledge was outstanding but was in the Reserves at the time. His required weekends were spent at sporting events waiting in the ambulance for casualties from the games. There were few. He needed to be needed so he changed his MOS, attended a second boot camp, switching to Infantry. He progressed rapidly through the rigors with his eye on special forces. It was challenging enough to keep him focused and as written in an earlier post he did become a Green Beret.
After a tour in Iraq he got the opportunity to apply what he'd learned. It was an honor and fulfilling for him to serve his country.
When he left the Army he turned his interest to music. He taught himself to play the guitar. I had sent one to him in Iraq so he had a little bit of a head start. His need to be the best drove him to start writing songs; good songs. His first one that I'll always cherish is "She Cried" that he wrote for
me. It was written in the car from the airport to home. He eventually recorded it. She Cried 
He would go on with his band to prolifically write others and record them. The band was very good and fulfilled his love of music but there was so much more he wanted to do.
During his military years he had longed to be a helicopter pilot. His dream would have to wait a few more years, though, but he did successfully complete the program. He had a love of teaching and excelled as an instructor. Looking through his flight bag was like taking a trip to a helicopter library. Anything you would want to know about helicopters, flying them and teaching was left perfectly organized and cataloged. 
Another star in the sky he was reaching for was the fixed wing ratings. With his usual zest he completed all but the last phase; the certified Flight Instructor Instrument. His plan was to have that completed around now, the end of summer. 
So after reading this do you agree with me that he truly was an exceptional son? 
He was gifted, athletic, driven, humorous with a love and devotion to family and to his dreams. 
He is still plucking stars from the sky. He's just a little closer to them now.