The simple beauty of your words seem like the perfect tribute to your former teacher. I can imagine that he would have been proud of you and your writing career.
During my English learning years in a language institute, i had a great teacher, who was from Pakistan. Although i failed the first term i had with her (I'll tell you the reasons later), the second term i had with her was fantastic, to the point i wanted to have with no one but her. I don't know if she's still alive, or is dead by now after more than a decade, but if she's dead, May.She Rest.In.Peace.
We often want to skip straight to the success, but really there is often failure first, as we learn, for so many reasons...I'm so glad you have those memories.
Thank you. How fortunate for both of you to have intersected. I share similar feelings for some teachers and leaders in my past and wish I'd been mature enough to thank them for being a good influence when they were more present in my life.
It's tricky, feeling this kind of loss, acknowledging the younger us that comes rushing back. Hugs, Noha, for the Mr. Fitzpatrick shaped hole in your heart right now.
Thank you, Elizabeth... I wholeheartedly accept the hug. There is definitely a Mr. Fitzpatrick shaped hole in my heart today...
I do keep thinking back to when I graduated and trying to remember if I thanked him, explicitly, with those words. And I can't remember and that bothers me. I believe he knew, but still...
I lost a great teacher this year and my son did as well. Teaching is often a lonely profession and it’s beautiful to read how much his presence remains with you.
My high school English teacher, Mrs. Rand, was the first person to encourage me to write, to let me know that it was worthwhile for me to pursue writing. I had a lot of polishing to do over the years, but writing is how I earned my keep for many years. And clearly I still do plenty of it.
We all have a lot of polishing to do, yes... I like to think that those teachers are the ones who help us excavate our raw potential, and then we spend years after polishing the gems of our raw talent.
What a beautiful tribute, Noha. I feel calm too, just reading your words about him. What a human, what a life. Rest in peace, Mr. Fitzpatrick. And Noha, may your heart be full of what he seeded in you.
I wanted to say also that the questions you shared that Mr. Fitzpatrick asked to help your writing helped my writing, too! I was working on a piece to submit for a women’s storytelling lineup (big stretch for me to perform on stage but I want to grow into it!). My story was accepted with feedback, and with those questions you shared I finally figured out how to get the heart of my story in there. What a difference it makes! This was a piece where I thought I needed so much backstory that I couldn’t figure out how to get to the heart. But you helped so much with your share! I am performing tonight. With so much gratitude to you and Mr. Fitzpatrick. Final thought: I learned yesterday that my beloved high school history teacher died. Mr. Lombardi. He was a wonderful teacher, a loving man and such a tender human. So I share that sadness at the passing, too. ❤️
What a gift he was to you, and will remain. He must have expanded many hundreds of lives. In my sadness for you, I am also glad he recognized the writer in you at a pivotal moment.
Thank you, Rona... His paradox was in how absolutely mild-mannered and understated he was. You would think that would fail to leave an impression but it did the exact opposite. I am so grateful to him. When teachers are good at what they do, their influence cannot be overstated.
I’m reminded of being a teacher reading this. All the lives a teacher touches that they may never get to see. You remind me of the sapling that the prophet Mohammad talks about. Look at the saplings this man planted ❤️
Noha, i'm now more process-oriented than i was before. Yeah, it's very important to remember both our good teachers and bad ones (Side Note: I usually am able to keep memories of some people for a long time).
The reason i failed that first term was that i was kinda struggling to adapt to my new school's environment, and was also stupid enough to believe what other students said about that teacher. But in order to enjoy my second term with her, i got back to my usual way of studying (doing the homeworks immediately after class, day after that tops, and have time for previewing the next lesson and additional searches). That's how i was able to enjoy that second term.
The simple beauty of your words seem like the perfect tribute to your former teacher. I can imagine that he would have been proud of you and your writing career.
Thank you, Jeffrey. I wanted to show him so much but I will have to trust that he would have been proud.
Absolutely beautiful. It can be so simple sometimes.
It really was so simple
During my English learning years in a language institute, i had a great teacher, who was from Pakistan. Although i failed the first term i had with her (I'll tell you the reasons later), the second term i had with her was fantastic, to the point i wanted to have with no one but her. I don't know if she's still alive, or is dead by now after more than a decade, but if she's dead, May.She Rest.In.Peace.
We often want to skip straight to the success, but really there is often failure first, as we learn, for so many reasons...I'm so glad you have those memories.
Thank you. How fortunate for both of you to have intersected. I share similar feelings for some teachers and leaders in my past and wish I'd been mature enough to thank them for being a good influence when they were more present in my life.
It's tricky, feeling this kind of loss, acknowledging the younger us that comes rushing back. Hugs, Noha, for the Mr. Fitzpatrick shaped hole in your heart right now.
Thank you, Elizabeth... I wholeheartedly accept the hug. There is definitely a Mr. Fitzpatrick shaped hole in my heart today...
I do keep thinking back to when I graduated and trying to remember if I thanked him, explicitly, with those words. And I can't remember and that bothers me. I believe he knew, but still...
I am certain he did. Enthusiasm and engagement say so much without saying. ❤️🩹
I lost a great teacher this year and my son did as well. Teaching is often a lonely profession and it’s beautiful to read how much his presence remains with you.
I'm so sorry for your loss, Kelly... thoughts for your teacher, and your son's teacher, as well.
The image of your class hunched over duotangs free writing is so visceral. He was clearly an excellent teacher (and thus, human). RIP.
Every day, for the first 10 minutes of class. Without fail... It's one of my favourite memories now.
Reminded me of my high school English teacher also.
awwww! reach out if your teacher is still there.
I loved my high school creative writing teacher too. Yay for those people who come into our lives and influence us just so.
Lovely tribute, Noha. And I’m sorry he’s gone.
Thanks Holly... I'm so glad you had a wonderful teacher too. Impossible to overstate their influence.
My high school English teacher, Mrs. Rand, was the first person to encourage me to write, to let me know that it was worthwhile for me to pursue writing. I had a lot of polishing to do over the years, but writing is how I earned my keep for many years. And clearly I still do plenty of it.
Jazak Allahu khairan for this lovely remembrance.
We all have a lot of polishing to do, yes... I like to think that those teachers are the ones who help us excavate our raw potential, and then we spend years after polishing the gems of our raw talent.
What a beautiful tribute, Noha. I feel calm too, just reading your words about him. What a human, what a life. Rest in peace, Mr. Fitzpatrick. And Noha, may your heart be full of what he seeded in you.
Oh I love that wish, Anne-Marie, may all our hearts be full of the seeds planted by our beloved teachers.
I wanted to say also that the questions you shared that Mr. Fitzpatrick asked to help your writing helped my writing, too! I was working on a piece to submit for a women’s storytelling lineup (big stretch for me to perform on stage but I want to grow into it!). My story was accepted with feedback, and with those questions you shared I finally figured out how to get the heart of my story in there. What a difference it makes! This was a piece where I thought I needed so much backstory that I couldn’t figure out how to get to the heart. But you helped so much with your share! I am performing tonight. With so much gratitude to you and Mr. Fitzpatrick. Final thought: I learned yesterday that my beloved high school history teacher died. Mr. Lombardi. He was a wonderful teacher, a loving man and such a tender human. So I share that sadness at the passing, too. ❤️
A beautiful tribute to a great teacher. ❤️
❤️❤️❤️ I miss him. I’ve missed him for years and now it’s all just come to the surface.
Same here. This was a gut punch. He was such a massive influence on us.
What a gift he was to you, and will remain. He must have expanded many hundreds of lives. In my sadness for you, I am also glad he recognized the writer in you at a pivotal moment.
Thank you, Rona... His paradox was in how absolutely mild-mannered and understated he was. You would think that would fail to leave an impression but it did the exact opposite. I am so grateful to him. When teachers are good at what they do, their influence cannot be overstated.
I’m sorry for his loss, but so grateful you and all those lucky students had him. Big hugs.
Thank you. We are so lucky to have had him.
I’m reminded of being a teacher reading this. All the lives a teacher touches that they may never get to see. You remind me of the sapling that the prophet Mohammad talks about. Look at the saplings this man planted ❤️
Oh my goodness, Marc, I did not see the full circle of that but you just showed me. Look at the saplings he planted indeed 😭😭😭😭😭.
I am sure you planted many as well…
Noha, i'm now more process-oriented than i was before. Yeah, it's very important to remember both our good teachers and bad ones (Side Note: I usually am able to keep memories of some people for a long time).
The reason i failed that first term was that i was kinda struggling to adapt to my new school's environment, and was also stupid enough to believe what other students said about that teacher. But in order to enjoy my second term with her, i got back to my usual way of studying (doing the homeworks immediately after class, day after that tops, and have time for previewing the next lesson and additional searches). That's how i was able to enjoy that second term.