Jan, oh my gosh….this was fantastic! You are becoming one of my favorite writers🥰. I have met a few folks like Mr. Lab, but the one person who stands out in my mind is Mrs. Lena Jordan. She was my fourth grade teacher and taught me math, tried to anyhow🤣. She knew I was struggling and we happen to go to church together. She began tutoring me but nothing could help me make sense of math. Many years after that, it was at a party to celebrate her 99th birthday that we had a sweet conversation about all things in life we had experienced together. I will never forget her saying that math was never my strong suit, but I had so many more talents I could be proud of. She was such a gem and full of wisdom. Thank you for reminding me of how special she was to me.
Jan - I too as a little girl envisioned making an imprint upon the world. I thought that there was nothing I could not do or reach for. My parents encouraged me in that regard. Though in my corner of the world in those days in Montreal girls were supposedly limited and would be homemakers so university was unnecessary, I rejected such limits and have all my life.
My imprint has not been a world impact as I assumed then in my youth but it has been a fascinating ride nonetheless. When I was in ninth grade I was gifted the most wonderful and supportive teacher, Mr Boswell. He encouraged me to reach my educational potential and his words have stayed with me to this very day. “You can do whatever you set your mind to do. It is only you who can decide those limits, no one else” I turned a corner that year and never looked back.
I have no idea whether that would have happened with maturation over time but he unlocked motivation and achievement in me that year which changed the course of my life.
I changed schools after that year as a new high school was built for our area and I never saw him again but he has always steered my choices and his belief in me has bolstered my belief in myself for the decades since.
I smile when I think of him and what place he retains to this day in my heart. 🙏🏻💜
Love this, Jan! If we just light our own light...beautiful thought by your dear fellow teacher. I believe that takes intention and prayer to be available to God. Once we declare that we are available, God will take the lead! Thx for sharing.
Jan, this so beautiful written. Thank you for sharing. Honestly, it brought tears to my eyes. I too wanted to be famous. Lol! I came to learn, as you have that the hugs, little notes and thank yous arethe only awards we need to feel famous.
Hi Jan, I finally doing some catch up. Reading your blog, I always enjoy them. I had a few teachers who took a little extra time out of their busy schedule to teach me. I went to a private Christian school and the teachers there in my younger years were so nice. My third grade teacher, Mrs. Neiss I spent the summer at her home. She taught me spelling English and math. Needless to say I struggled in all those areas.  but she never gave up on me. My fourth grade teacher Miss Barb her last name escapes my brain. She too took me under her wing and helped me a great deal. My 5th grade teacher, Mr. Faga he just wasn’t my teacher, he was my basketball coach, my softball coach and my gym teacher. He is such a wonderful man he too had such an impact on my life. These 3 teachers taught me that even with a learning disability, I could be anything I wanted. I to this day think of them often and what the did for me. Then when I got into high school my hard of hearing teacher miss Cosenza helped me in my classes. She was also in a band called Glider she was a teacher by day and a singer in a band by night. She’s on YouTube Sue Cosenza I was always thinking I was special because I had a teacher that was the head singer of a rock group. She taught me as well that I could do anything as long as I worked hard at it. We till this day with the other students keep in touch with her. She still does her music and does record her own songs. She’s very special to me and I’m so blessed to have her in my life still.
Thank you Jan for another writing of yours.I always love to read them.When I was a little girl I dreamed of becoming a teacher one day.When I played I gathered my stuff toys and pretended they were my students.I grew up still my dream did not change.I prayed that I will be able to college.My brother and my mother helped me financially.Thank God I finished my Bachelor of Education.I went further while teaching in the Elementary I did my masters.With the help of the Lord and my family I pursued my dreams.Now I am old I sit down and I can tell my children and my grandchildren if they dream do it with prayers and the Lord will guide you every step of the way.
Once again a wonderful story. It’s amazing to me the people that influence us all throughout our life. I have to say in the last few years Graham, and through him, you and Cathey Cone and reading stories and writings from others on Substack etc. etc. have certainly made me explore different thoughts and awakened a huge gratitude for my life. For that I am so thankful.🙏🏻❤️
Beautiful shared story of your past! As I think back about the people I’ve met and the students I have taught there are so many that made an indelible impression on my life . They made me want to be a better person or a better teacher. The teacher that I did my student teaching under told me so many things that I wanted to implement into my teaching. One of the really important pieces of advice to me was listen to each student individually so that they know I truly care about them within the teacher - student boundary. They know you have a job to do but you care about them and the success they make and why.
This is beautiful! I have met some amazing people and they have all left their mark on me. If I had to name one in particular it would be my mom, she is a great example for me. I don't know if I could define what success is, but I think that one step to achieve it is to believe in yourself. 🌼
Jan, oh my gosh….this was fantastic! You are becoming one of my favorite writers🥰. I have met a few folks like Mr. Lab, but the one person who stands out in my mind is Mrs. Lena Jordan. She was my fourth grade teacher and taught me math, tried to anyhow🤣. She knew I was struggling and we happen to go to church together. She began tutoring me but nothing could help me make sense of math. Many years after that, it was at a party to celebrate her 99th birthday that we had a sweet conversation about all things in life we had experienced together. I will never forget her saying that math was never my strong suit, but I had so many more talents I could be proud of. She was such a gem and full of wisdom. Thank you for reminding me of how special she was to me.
Beautifully written once again thank you 🙏
Jan - I too as a little girl envisioned making an imprint upon the world. I thought that there was nothing I could not do or reach for. My parents encouraged me in that regard. Though in my corner of the world in those days in Montreal girls were supposedly limited and would be homemakers so university was unnecessary, I rejected such limits and have all my life.
My imprint has not been a world impact as I assumed then in my youth but it has been a fascinating ride nonetheless. When I was in ninth grade I was gifted the most wonderful and supportive teacher, Mr Boswell. He encouraged me to reach my educational potential and his words have stayed with me to this very day. “You can do whatever you set your mind to do. It is only you who can decide those limits, no one else” I turned a corner that year and never looked back.
I have no idea whether that would have happened with maturation over time but he unlocked motivation and achievement in me that year which changed the course of my life.
I changed schools after that year as a new high school was built for our area and I never saw him again but he has always steered my choices and his belief in me has bolstered my belief in myself for the decades since.
I smile when I think of him and what place he retains to this day in my heart. 🙏🏻💜
Love this, Jan! If we just light our own light...beautiful thought by your dear fellow teacher. I believe that takes intention and prayer to be available to God. Once we declare that we are available, God will take the lead! Thx for sharing.
Jan, it’s late here and I see I’ve made some typos!
Jan, this so beautiful written. Thank you for sharing. Honestly, it brought tears to my eyes. I too wanted to be famous. Lol! I came to learn, as you have that the hugs, little notes and thank yous arethe only awards we need to feel famous.
Hi Jan, I finally doing some catch up. Reading your blog, I always enjoy them. I had a few teachers who took a little extra time out of their busy schedule to teach me. I went to a private Christian school and the teachers there in my younger years were so nice. My third grade teacher, Mrs. Neiss I spent the summer at her home. She taught me spelling English and math. Needless to say I struggled in all those areas.  but she never gave up on me. My fourth grade teacher Miss Barb her last name escapes my brain. She too took me under her wing and helped me a great deal. My 5th grade teacher, Mr. Faga he just wasn’t my teacher, he was my basketball coach, my softball coach and my gym teacher. He is such a wonderful man he too had such an impact on my life. These 3 teachers taught me that even with a learning disability, I could be anything I wanted. I to this day think of them often and what the did for me. Then when I got into high school my hard of hearing teacher miss Cosenza helped me in my classes. She was also in a band called Glider she was a teacher by day and a singer in a band by night. She’s on YouTube Sue Cosenza I was always thinking I was special because I had a teacher that was the head singer of a rock group. She taught me as well that I could do anything as long as I worked hard at it. We till this day with the other students keep in touch with her. She still does her music and does record her own songs. She’s very special to me and I’m so blessed to have her in my life still.
Thank you Jan for another writing of yours.I always love to read them.When I was a little girl I dreamed of becoming a teacher one day.When I played I gathered my stuff toys and pretended they were my students.I grew up still my dream did not change.I prayed that I will be able to college.My brother and my mother helped me financially.Thank God I finished my Bachelor of Education.I went further while teaching in the Elementary I did my masters.With the help of the Lord and my family I pursued my dreams.Now I am old I sit down and I can tell my children and my grandchildren if they dream do it with prayers and the Lord will guide you every step of the way.
Once again a wonderful story. It’s amazing to me the people that influence us all throughout our life. I have to say in the last few years Graham, and through him, you and Cathey Cone and reading stories and writings from others on Substack etc. etc. have certainly made me explore different thoughts and awakened a huge gratitude for my life. For that I am so thankful.🙏🏻❤️
Beautiful shared story of your past! As I think back about the people I’ve met and the students I have taught there are so many that made an indelible impression on my life . They made me want to be a better person or a better teacher. The teacher that I did my student teaching under told me so many things that I wanted to implement into my teaching. One of the really important pieces of advice to me was listen to each student individually so that they know I truly care about them within the teacher - student boundary. They know you have a job to do but you care about them and the success they make and why.
This is beautiful! I have met some amazing people and they have all left their mark on me. If I had to name one in particular it would be my mom, she is a great example for me. I don't know if I could define what success is, but I think that one step to achieve it is to believe in yourself. 🌼
I love it. He always had the best advice for me. Thank you.
Inspiriting read Jan, thank you. As a blood donor, the quote of Bill Murray totally made me LOL!!!
Delightful!
Thanks sincerely!
Thanks Jan,Just lit my candle 🕯🕯🕯 love candles take care ❤️
Love this..sometimes words said to you could have a huge impact in your life, and not for the good. I have never forgotten. ( hope my english is ok)