Sept/Oct 2013 - Inside Chappaqua

More Than Just A Teacher
The Relationship That Goes Beyond the Classroom
By Ashley Grund
Teachers: an essential part
of the life of a high school student.
Many Chappaqua residents
love our school district
for one thing in particular–
outstanding teachers. The importance
of the relationships
built between students and
teachers in high school cannot
be stressed enough. Our
teachers become not merely
just the adults seen every day
in the classroom, but mentors
that have a lasting impact.
This type of relationship may
be rare for some students, but
it exists in and throughout
the Greeley community.
Senior Julia Fortier knows
what it is like to have this profound
connection with a teacher.
Julia had Mr. Steven Houser
from ninth through eleventh grade as
both a history teacher and cross country
and track coach. Sadly, this past
school year marked Mr. Houser’s last
year at Greeley after teaching there for
34 years. When asked to describe the
relationship he has with Julia, he said
that he and Julia have been “buddies
since ninth grade.” The connection
that they have emanates when they
are together; Julia feels lucky to have
had someone who has had such an impact
on so many students throughout
his teaching career.
Julia’s appreciation for Mr. Houser
has grown both in the classroom and
on track. She enjoyed the three classes
she had with him and described him
as a coach who is “very supportive and
didn’t put too much pressure on anybody.”
Mr. Houser recognizes that this
relationship doesn’t come with every
student. “It takes a special person that
can go beyond ‘I have to do this for
my next test.’ When this happens, it is
extremely fulfilling, and it happened
with Julia,’” Houser said, with a big
smile on his face.
Julia Fortier and Mr. Houser
42 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2013
For Senior Noah Weissman, Mrs.
Jacqueline Abair helped him to channel
the confidence that was hidden
within himself. As a sophomore in a
freshman/sophomore English class,
Noah took it upon himself to form relationships
with the younger students.
Mrs. Abair noticed this, and it is one
of the many reasons she loved having
Noah in the classroom. “It really
impressed me how Noah welcomed
the younger students,” beamed Abair.
Noah was at first not a particularly
strong English student, but always
reached out for help, met with Mrs.
Abair, communicated his ideas and
eventually succeeded. “Mrs. Abair gave
me the confidence I needed going into
the peer leadership program tryouts.
She noticed these qualities in me and
knew that those evaluating me would
be able to notice those qualities as
well,” explained Noah.
Making a Difference
Mrs. Abair feels very humbled knowing
that she has had an impact on
Noah, and this relationship serves as a
reminder of just how rewarding teaching
can be. “Teaching is an honor, as is
being able to work with children and
knowing that you can make a difference,”
she added.
Hearing both Julia’s and Noah’s
stories made me reflect on the bonds
I have had with my teachers. After
freshman year, I discovered a unique
opportunity in Greeley’s Chinese
program. Since the beginning of
sophomore year, I have been learning
Mandarin Chinese and have loved
every minute. People have often
asked me, “Why Chinese?” The
answer to this question lies in
our teacher, Mrs. Ping Li, or “Li
laoshi,” as we call her in class.
Whether we are learning the
correct way to say the tones
on all the eccentric characters,
or having a “culture day” with
a Chinese food celebration,
there is never a dull moment
in class. As I approach my third
year of Chinese with Mrs. Li, I
am thankful for having such a
great opportunity to learn this
unique language in such depth
and breadth. We are constantly
reminded of the exact question
that I often hear from all my
friends: Why Chinese?
Instilling Confidence
Mrs. Li tells us that our learning
of Chinese will stretch beyond
the doors of the classroom. Chinese
opens the door for many career paths,
study abroad opportunities in college
and other opportunities that one
would not otherwise be able to take
on. Mrs. Li has also instilled confidence
in me that I carry over into
other areas of my life. She constantly
reminds us that by learning Chinese,
we are going to make a difference in
the world.
No matter how students feel about
their teachers, there are always those
that we will remember and tell our
children and our children’s children
about. For some, teachers may even
affect the choice of career path or
courses in college.
When a student can finally get past
some of the frustrations of the high
school workload and dig deeper into
what is really important, teachers are
always there for them at the end of
the day. They are the ones that make
school more than just school, and turn
it into something extraordinary and
life changing.
Ashley Grund is a
senior at Horace Greeley
High School. Growing
up, her favorite
book was Goodnight
Moon.