海角大神

Recalling great teachers

In regards to the Mix article 鈥淚llustrating gratitude on the page and in life鈥� in the Dec. 31 & Jan. 7 issue: As a middle-schooler, I signed up for play production with a teacher named Ms. Thrasher. Ms. Thrasher knew how to love her students and mold them into the roles they would play. Ms. Thrasher spent many hours working with us on different scenarios. That year, our improv group of four made the finals of the Los Angeles City talent show.聽

At our 20-year high school reunion, three members of the improv group had made careers out of acting. As for myself, my first career was as a coach and teacher, following in Ms. Thrasher鈥檚 footsteps. I found I loved working with youth and youthful thinkers. I loved watching the students鈥� eyes light up when they grasped a concept that was previously unknown. But what I became most grateful for was that when life threw me some adult-sized challenges, I was able to improvise accordingly!

Roy Gessford

San Diego

My parents and I immigrated to Buffalo, N.Y., from Canada. During my years of schooling, my parents tried to brainwash me about what I should be doing as the first member of our family to get a college education. I was told I should become a doctor, a lawyer, or 鈥渁t least鈥� a CPA.聽

At Brooklyn College, I went to a play production tryout and hung in there as they began making technical assignments like stage manager. When the technical director called out, 鈥淲ho will work on the lighting?,鈥� I leaped up and said, 鈥淚 will do that!鈥�

In one play, I wanted to use projections. Bill Hatch, my talented tech director, always said, 鈥淚f you can think of it, you can make one.鈥澛�

Research on projected scenery gave me an idea, and I built several projectors that fulfilled my designs. It was Brooklyn College that prepared me for my career as a lighting consultant. A good educator can achieve much if they give a student the guidance and encouragement that keeps them growing.

Howard M. Brandston

Hollowville, N.Y.