"My legs hurt like a four letter word, but the pain seems to lessen when I remind myself that now I'm the same height as Dan Anderson," said Anderson's student teacher Jake Holderman, whose newly-inserted leg implants kept him in the hospital just long enough for him to grow a goatee just like Anderson's.

Holderman strongly believes that he is a student first, and Anderson is his teacher. "I strongly believe that I am a student first, and Anderson is my teacher," said Holderman.

Jake Holderman enjoys eating uncomfortably close to Dan Anderson while he brushes his teeth for the fourth time that day. Photo by Sam Weiss

Tired of student accusations that he is Anderson's "mini me," Holderman decided to have the leg surgery rather than give up all he has learned from his teacher. The leg surgery was a big step, Holderman admitted, but he was also tired of adjusting Anderson's rolling chair to fit his smaller stature. The little things like this made Holderman opt for the leg surgery, which he had done in between converting to Anderson's faith and writing a controversial pamphlet entitled "Anderson's Dating Myths."

Holderman's admiration for Anderson started off painlessly enough. Students in Anderson's classes said that lately, however, they have noticed the similarities between the two reaching new heights. They never imagined that Holderman would do something as drastic as leg surgery, but on second thought the signs pointed in that direction.

For example, student teachers observe how to run a class before they take the wheel, and Holderman took his observations to heart. First he took note of the way Anderson swings his keys, greets the class, wears the clothes his wife chooses (Holderman wears similar clothes but wisely decided not to have Anderson's wife dress him), and receives respect from the students in return.

From the first day he taught solo, Holderman used these tricks. But apparently they weren't enough. It appeared that Anderson was still on another level, above Holderman. "I sensed that we weren't seeing eye to eye," said Holderman, "and I felt like that cut me short on opportunities to learn how to teach."

Holderman also said that the songs Anderson plays during passing periods seemed to mock him. "I couldn't stand that one song by 50 Cent that starts like, 'Go, go, go, go shorty,' or any other song that referenced height. Now I know they were telling me to have the leg surgery. I don't regret it."

To Holderman's delight, Anderson recently gave his approval. "He's really grown into his role as teacher," Anderson said. He also revealed the source of their similarities, which Holderman reiterated to a group of his students who already had such suspicions. "Yes," Holderman said,"I am Anderson's illegitimate child from 24 years ago."