David

David(ˈdāvid)

Today is Teacher’s Day, so I thought(THôt) I’d share a story about one of my teachers. I’ve been blessed(blest,ˈblesid) to have many wonderful teachers over the years, and each of them taught me different things.

David was my advisor(ədˈvīzər) and math teacher in middle school. The middle school was from 5th through 8th grade(grād), and I transferred there in 6th grade, so I was very much a new student. I was certainly very nervous about entering(ˈentər) a new school, I think a key factor in my successful acclimation(ˌakləˈmāSH(ə)n) was joining David’s advisee(adˌvīˈzē,ˌadvī-) group.

“Advisee groups” at my school were groups of 10-15 students that spent a little bit of time together each day, had one period(ˈpi(ə)rēəd) each week to do activities, and, if I remember correctly, had a couple of days each year to plan more extended activities. I was lucky to have a teacher in David that I got along with, and to have an advisee group of students that I eventually became good friends with. One project we worked on was picking up 1,000 pounds of rocks from the field that was to become the new soccer(ˈsäkər) field(fēld). We got some reward for it, but I can’t remember what it was! I do remember the excitement(ikˈsītmənt) as we measured rocks and approached the goal of 1,000 pounds.

As my math(maTH) teacher, David noticed that I was easily grasping(ˈgraspiNG) the assigned(əˈsīn) concepts(ˈkänˌsept), and suggested that I use the summer after 6th grade to skip a year of the math curriculum(kəˈrikyələm). He tutored(ˈt(y)o͞otər) me a couple(ˈkəpəl) of times over the summer, and I was able to start a class the next year that was more challenging(ˈCHalənjiNG). More than just “skipping a year of math”, David taught me to challenge myself and put in my best effort.

David was a kind, quiet(ˈkwīət) man with a good sense of humor(ˈ(h)yo͞omər). We’ve keep in touch over the years, but it’s been a while since we’ve connected. Hopefully we’ll have a chance to chat the next time I’m back in North Carolina(ˌkarəˈlīnə). It’s funny to think that when he was my teacher he was probably 10 years younger than I am now!