Teens
Setting The Record Straight
© 2008
by
Stephen A. Peterson
Two years after graduating from Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, I remember how I did not want to tell Sister Rita Clare Broecker “thank you” for tutoring me through her English Composition and Grammar class. At the time I graduated, I thought she was rigid, mean and insensitive in her teaching approach. During my senior year, she made me re-write at least four compositions more than a half dozen times if I misspelled any word; had an awkward sentence; or if a participle dangled. She thought I should practice writing more in class rather than daydream; sit up straight in my desk rather than slouch; and not chew on my pencils or pens—unfair things like that. Though I had graduated, my mother especially, told me I needed to, at least, verbally express my gratitude to Sister for her voluntarily giving me her time to better my education. My mother also told me I should have done so before I left school but I should do so when the opportunity presented itself.
The opportunity presented itself when Sister was on the campus of Indiana University—Bloomington to attend a conference of high school English teachers. As she walked from the Student Union, I caught an eye of her as I walked from a class in Ballantine Hall. Purposely, I waited until the associated she was with re-entered the Student Union building before I made my approach and blurted out: “Good afternoon, Sister. I’m Steve Peterson. Do you remember me?”
“Of course I do, Mr. Peterson! How are you?” she replied enthusiastically.
“Sister, I want to thank you for everything…I mean thank you for teaching me how to write after school and everything…even when I messed up my writing assignments… caused problems in class… when I was lazy…when I acted stupid…got Paul Nelson in trouble…I’m sorry…”
I remember thinking. “Now why in the heck did I say all of that? Man, she must think I am absolutely stupid and out of my skull. I also remember thinking that maybe I could make a run for it and get away but my feet did not seem to want to run. I felt frozen in a stupor it seemed.
To my surprise, Sister reached out her hand: “Mr. Peterson, you were not stupid, lazy nor did you cause any problems in class or during tutoring sessions that I recall. You must have thought some of your actions were in defiance of my authority and teaching methods. But believe me I have been teaching for a while and discipline and practice go hand in hand when learning how to write and write well. I believe you are very brave to come before me to ask for forgiveness for what you knew was misplaced thoughts and feelings,” she said. “And you must
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forgive me, as well, for I was not always patient with you at times. I believed then as now that if you want, you can be an outstanding writer. I recognized that you have that talent and I wanted to push you extra hard to develop it. Getting you to recognize your talent meant I had to challenge you as much as reasonably possible. Just remember to continue writing to better your skills. Most of all do not be afraid of rejections and harsh critique of your writing or whatever career you accept if it is not as a writer. They are going to come regardless. Accept them as honest assessments to be improved upon.”
We smiled respecting each other from that point on. I further learned that Sister Rita Clare was not the monster I and a number of her students thought her to be.
Forgiveness or reconciliation, some will cal it, is one of life’s difficult acts to perform by humanity. However, when employed, its medicinal content is the most powerful elixir known to humankind. Going before someone I have wronged is still not easy. But each time I apologize and ask forgiveness from another person I feel freed afterwards. I then wonder why I hesitated to present myself to them in the first place.
At time situations are so embarrassing that I feel as though hiding from that person is the only alternative. Yet the most difficult circumstances generally result in increased blessings it would appear.
God recognizes brokenness and understands completely how difficult forgiveness and the honest cries of those who approach Him burdened with sin—no matter how much and how grave. It is as if the Lord says: “You’re not stupid or low down. You’re my child and I love you beyond all measure. I’m so happy you have finally come to Me to relinquish your burdens to Me. Everything is made new and fresh from this point on.”
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