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Topic: Teachers (07/12/04)
TITLE: Profile of a Teacher By Linda Ryzenga 07/18/04 |
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Often I think of her, wondering if her life had been fulfilled. Had she re-married? How old was her boy when she died? Some how I feel guilty that I didn't return to the high school after graduating to tell her how much she influenced my life. Life is too short it seems. There is never enough time to sometimes do the things we hold important, like visiting a favorite teacher.
Of all the teachers I came in contact with during my four years of high school, Mrs. Spray was held in high esteem. When she read poetry to us in class, I was mesmerized while listening to her voice dramatically recite the Tale of the Ancient Mariner, or reading from a selected portion of the Iliad, she caused the characters to almost come alive. She taught how much knowledge one can derive from poetry, and sometimes I still love to read a book of poems.
Certainly the incident I remember precisely was the day I had an appointment with her to give an oral book report. This was the first book report I had ever given orally and I was a little nervous. The book held an enormous amount of emotion for me as I envisioned myself as the character of the story, and at the end it was very sad. I cried and cried when I was reading it, and then, as I was explaining the emotional part to Mrs. Spray, I started crying all over again. We talked about why I felt the way I did and what prompted me to cry. After I was finished with the book report, I realized she had given me something I least expected. My grade for the report was an A.
Mrs. Spray was a single mom. Her little boy, at that time, was about seven or eight years old. I remember feeling sorry for her, thinking that it must be quite difficult raising a child, and working full time with no one to share the load. To me she seemed so beautiful with her blond hair tied back in a twist. Her creamy complexion was positively flawless. Surely she would meet a handsome gentleman and re-marry some day..
Approximately ten years later, after I had married and was raising my own children, I read in the paper that my favorite teacher had died from cancer. It was like being hit very suddenly by a heavy object. I felt absolutely terrible!
What a wonderful teacher she was, and what an impact she had on my life. Every now and then, as we walk through life, we meet someone like Mrs. Spray who influences our lives. What a Blessing that is.