Be Chrool to Your Scuel

Being in a semi-quarantined state due to the current world we now live in – parents (like myself) are being tasked with teaching their kids for the remainder of the school year. By the end of the first week most of us were either looking for the strongest alcoholic beverage, the farthest room in the house away from our new pint-sized co-workers or the next exit (stage right). If anything, this social experiment gone wrong has taught me that I am not cut out to be a teacher. I have also discovered that this “new math” the kids are doing these days makes absolutely no sense.

Teachers are constantly fighting for higher pay and now I see why, and rightfully so. If I had to teach 30 students with different personalities at varying educational levels, I would demand more money too. I’m struggling just trying to manage two personalities and learning styles.

So, I say – give the teachers what they want. They deserve! I’ve had plenty of teachers and educators who have influenced me and my creativity at some point in my life. Here are four individuals who have left their indelible mark on me as a creative:

Ms. Rogers reminded me of a relative, an auntie who would pull you to the side and offer words of encouragement if she felt you needed it. She donned a mini flat-top fro with flourishes of gray and burgundy lipstick. She didn’t aid in my creative upbringing whatsoever although she did teach my favorite subject: English in 7th or 8th grade; but it was her persona that left an impression. She was a black woman – my very first African-American teacher – who was unique, expressive, vocal and cared about the well-being of her students.

Mrs. Pelinski was hands-down the most prolific teacher in my life because she literally gave life to my creativity. From 9th grade all the way to 12th grade for two hours straight every day, five days out of the week for nine months out of the year (she even graciously put up with me during my moody Senior year). As my Drama instructor she was not only there to help me learn the art of acting, but she also gave me an outlet for my creative writing and helped me discover the love I began to feel being behind a camera with directing as well (once upon a time I had visions of being the first female Spike Lee). A lot of my creative ideas were born out of the time I spent in Mrs. Pelinski’s class and she supported all of them.

Mr. Roberts was my 9th grade English teacher and the very first person who pulled me aside one day and told me I had a talent for writing and I should pursue that. He was the calmest, gentlest teacher I ever had. Never raised his voice and never belittled you. He was the initial person to plant the seed in my head of me being a writer for a living. I had never given it much real thought. Writing was always something I just did because I loved words and writing things (and I STILL didn’t give it much thought until about three or four years after college).

As I write about this last teacher that influenced my creativity, I’m laughing at myself because I can’t for the life of me recall his name, which is really sad and unfortunate. He had to be in his thirties with glasses, brown shoulder-length hair and he rode a bicycle everywhere. He was my freshman English Professor during my first go-round in college (funny how all my English teachers are on this list). I was struggling really hard trying to find my way in college and in life during that time. I was a fresh out of high school Honor’s student with straight A’s finding difficulty keeping up with my college classes while working and living off campus. I remember him asking to see me in his office. I went and he asked me “why am I having a hard time doing the work because my essays and papers show otherwise.” I expressed my disinterest in the University I was attending. This professor refused to let me fail because he apparently “saw” something in me. He told me about an independent study program that I should take part in and also told me that depending on the quality of my final paper he would move my current D (yep, would have been my first D ever in life) to a B. Long story short, I got that B and I participated in the independent study program (which saved me, but that was short-lived).

Thank you, Ms. Rogers.
Thank you, Mrs. Pelinski.
Thank you, Mr. Roberts.
And
Thank you, to my freshman English professor.

You all did your job as educators by nurturing the talent (and person) you saw in me and ensuing that I reached my fullest potential in your presence and I appreciate and thank you all for that.