Crazy Science Teacher Made Most Bizarre Prediction 50 Years Ago — His Students Never Expected It to Come True
You've probably heard the old saying, "promises were made to be broken." How many of us have pinky swore with a childhood friend that we'll always be besties no matter what? Only to grow up and grow apart.
Sometimes our promises may be ever sillier. Like the good old "wedding pact." You know, when two friends promise each other: "If we're not married in 30 years, we'll get married"? How many times has that happened? Probably never (but if it has happened, please submit your story to sienna.aquilini@goalcast.com)!!
But sometimes, it really is the strangest promises that come true. And for science teacher Patrick Moriarty, when he made this bizarre promise to his class of 1978, he was going to make damn sure it came true.
He Made Them an Offer They Couldn’t Refuse... But May Just Forget
Two of Mr. Moriarty's students pose with their yearbook from 1982.WHAM via CNN / Video
Nearly 50 years ago, in Upstate New York, Patrick Moriarty was only beginning his teaching career. He was just 22 years old and he was all hands on deck when it came to shaping the leaders of tomorrow. In fact, "looking into the future" was something Mr. Moriarty was pretty good at.
As the story goes, one day the science teacher handed his class a worksheet which outlined the earth's solar system, demonstrating to his students how all the complicated stars and constellations and planets in the sky are miraculously connected. Of course, his students were fascinated by the wonder of the great unknown. I mean, what kid doesn't love space — or at least, Star Wars? Then, in the middle of his lesson, Mr. Moriarty had a passing observation...that would shockingly come full circle nearly half a century later — literally.
"I said to the kids, 'Hey, why don't you just go ahead and circle that eclipse and we'll get together,' and after I did that, I did that for the next 16 years with all of my classes that I taught Earth science to."
- Patrick Moriarty
One of the worksheets he handed out showed that in April 2024 (almost 50 years into the future), a once-in-a-lifetime scientific event would take place. There would be a solar eclipse passing over their small town. It was right then and there Mr. Moriarty had a passing thought, that turned into a long con plan. He swore that in 50 years, they would all get together again, and watch the spectacular solar eclipse, side by side.
His junior high students were convinced he was joking. They played along letting him know they "couldn't wait." Then as it does, time passed. The school year ended. His students grew up. And the world changed drastically, but what was written in the stars never changed.
But Mr. Moriarty was no ordinary teacher. He was a man with a plan, armed with a passion for science and a heart of gold. He distributed worksheets showing the paths of upcoming eclipses, circling the one they'd see in 2024.
man holding a yearbookWHAM via CNN / Video
Decades later, Mr. Moriarty's promise seemed like a distant memory, an old story that might never see the light of day again. After all, his former students had scattered far and wide, building careers, families, and lives that were miles away from their junior high classroom. Yet, despite the distance, the spirit of the original promise lingered in the back of Moriarty's mind.
In the age of social media, he had a new tool to track down his former students. With a single Facebook post, Mr. Moriarty invited his old class to a gathering at his Rochester, New York, home to watch the eclipse. It was a long shot — who would remember a promise made so long ago?
But to his surprise, the notifications began to pour in. Former students from across the country responded with excitement. A simple Facebook event, born from a half-century-old worksheet, had the power to rekindle the sense of wonder that once filled his classroom.
Over 100 Students Showed up to Complete the “Longest Homework Assignment in History”
Black and white photos from school yearbookWHAM via CNN / Video
When the big day finally arrived, Mr. Moriarty's driveway was buzzing with energy. Former students, some now in their 50s and 60s, gathered together to keep the promise alive. They came with their families, their stories, and even their yearbooks, ready to catch up and reminisce about the good old days.
“When teachers go into education, they hope that they can be that kind of teacher that would have an impact on people and make a difference for people. And this event right here just firmed it up for me that I guess I did okay.”
- Patrick Moriarty, The Washington Post
Mr. Moriarty, now in his late 60s, could hardly believe his eyes. Over 100 people showed up, eager to complete what they jokingly called "the longest homework assignment in history." For some, it was a trip down memory lane, while for others, it was a chance to reconnect with friends they hadn't seen in decades.
As the sky darkened and the eclipse reached its peak, everyone grew quiet, lost in the moment. Even though clouds obscured the eclipse, it didn't matter. What mattered was that they were together, keeping the promise alive.
The Real Lesson Could Never Be “Eclipsed”
Patrick Moriarty (center, blue shirt) and a group of his former students watched the solar eclipse together on Monday in New York.Caitlin Moriarty Hynick
The eclipse itself was incredible, but it was just the backdrop for something far more meaningful. For Mr. Moriarty, the real magic was in the connections made that day — the stories shared, the laughs had, and the memories relived. It was a reminder that a simple promise made in a junior high classroom could bring people together decades later.
The gathering proved that a teacher's influence can last a lifetime. The bond between Mr. Moriarty and his students was stronger than the sun, moon, and stars combined. It was a celebration of friendship, loyalty, and the enduring impact a teacher can have on the lives of their students.
"The eclipse itself … took a back seat to what this was all about. The eclipse was my catalyst more than anything.” - Patrick Moriarty
As the day came to a close, Mr. Moriarty couldn't help but feel grateful. Not just for the eclipse, but for the people who made it all worthwhile. It was a lesson that even the biggest promises can be kept if you believe in them enough. This was one promise that could never be eclipsed.
Why the Search for Wholeness Is Keeping You Away from True Happiness
Right now, someone halfway across the world is searching for happiness.
Like most people, they’re not happy. They believe something is missing that makes them feel incomplete on a fundamental level.
Maybe you’re one of those people.
And so, to become truly happy, the general assumption is to acquire that one thing that will fix the problem. Once you get it, all things will be good and right in the world and you may ride off into the sunset. Well, maybe life won't be perfect, but you'll certainly be more at peace.
The only problem with this is that you’re looking for peace and happiness outside of yourself– somewhere where it just doesn’t exist. So, you move from fixation to fixation, each one appearing more and more promising.
You feel as though you’re getting closer. But it’s all smoke and mirrors. You’re searching for wholeness when you were never incomplete to begin with.
That never-ending quest for wholeness tends to revolve around three things:
What the three things we chase have in common
Each of these things lead us to live our life in the same way: Constantly striving to obtain the one elusive thing that will help us feel complete.
But the problem is, this is our way of realizing a sense of self-worth. Feelings of unworthiness are driving us to look for external validation.
How this keeps us from happiness
As I mentioned earlier, these various efforts we make to find wholeness are all smoke and mirrors.We were already whole to begin with, we just think we are missing a piece.
Almost all of us experience some form of self-judgment. We tell ourselves we’re not good enough, tall enough, handsome or pretty enough, smart enough, young enough, or one of several thousand other harmful narratives that only seeks to destroy our confidence and self-worth. It’s because of this that we mistake our complete selves as incomplete ones. This is the delusion.
And this keeps you from happiness because you’re completely preoccupied trying to find an answer to your lack of self-worth outside of yourself when in reality, it was within you all along. So long as you’re searching outside yourself, you’ll never find your answer.
What to do about it
Throughout life, we become conditioned by our experiences. Someone constantly tells us we are stupid, we are bullied at school, we grow up a bit awkward and take that as our own inadequacy, we make a mistake that we never forgive ourselves for, or something else altogether.
From this, our subconscious creates the narrative that we’re screwed up. And, from that, the “if I only had…” idea is created.
But if happiness is only found from within, and all our efforts to find it outside of ourselves are fruitless, what should you do? Turn inward. Take the time to get to know yourself on a very deep level.
Talk to otherswho are going through similar things as you, meditate to develop self-awareness, and change the way you live to include more nourishing activities built around personal growth and helping others.
You don’t have to stop working towards your goals and it doesn’t mean that wanting to find that special someone, generate wealth, or achieve great things are misguided efforts.
Just don’t do those things with the delusion that you’ll find some missing piece of yourself and realize eternal happiness or peace as a result. There are valuable reasons for all three efforts, but finding your own self-worth isn’t one of them.