Up and About: Thank you, Miss Halpin

By BOB BRANDTS

Published on May 02, 2008

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined. That's a quote from Henry David Thoreau and one that I've been thinking about a lot lately.

It all started with the recent passing of Charlotte Halpin, a former high school English teacher of mine who influenced my life in more ways than she could have ever imagined. Miss Halpin, who taught at Amherst High School for many years, was the type of teacher who knew how to get the best out of her students. She did this by setting a high bar of expectations for all of her students that was unwavering, despite our many pleas of "This is too hard!" and "I can't do it!"

Miss Halpin saw through all of these smoke screens that we threw her way and seemed to know exactly what each of us was capable of doing and then demanded nothing less from us. No grading curves. No shifting standards. No excuses.

We of course had a different bar in mind, one much lower than hers, but she wouldn't budge her bar downward for anything and, for many of us, it was a struggle to climb to the lofty heights that she had set for us. I remember seeing a lot of red ink on many tests and papers that she returned to me back then, but I also remember how the amount of red ink gradually lessened as the school year went on and the sense of pride I felt when I finally earned a high mark from her on a paper that I'd submitted.

I discovered the truth behind the words: "Something attained easily is never valued." Unlike many of my other classes, in Miss Halpin's class there was a sense that I was stretching myself, becoming something better, and it wasn't until later in life, when I looked back through the lens of experience, that I saw just how rare she was in the world of teaching. Through all my years of schooling, including many years of college, I can remember just a handful of teachers of Miss Halpin's caliber. In each case, the words "tough," "strict" and "fair" pop into my head alongside their faces along with seemingly incongruous words such as "compassionate," "patient" and "encouraging." Each of them obviously loved what they did and believed in their chosen mission: encourage each student to be the best that they can be.

Fast forward to the present and, when I look closely, I can see all the ways in which teachers such as Miss Halpin have had an impact on my daily life. For many of us, the word "potential" can hang around our necks like a millstone, and we struggle to remove its weight. That struggle can take a whole lifetime in some cases but for some of us, the lucky ones, we cross paths with people who see the potential contained within us and they take the time to help us unlock its magic. Potential then becomes a promise, a direction, and a hope instead of a weight, a burden, or an unanswered question that will nag at us until our final breath. Getting back to the Thoreau quote, these people inspired me to imagine possibilities that would have never occurred to me if left on my own. I owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude for that gift.

One of the other many ways that these teachers continue to impact me is through their voices that still echo in my head. I can no longer say things like "close enough is good enough" or "that's just not possible" without one, or all, of them wagging their imaginary finger in my face and saying, "try again!" Sometimes that feels like a burden, as it would be much easier to quit and just call it a day at times, but I realize that the sum of my life will be much greater if I keep trying to reach higher rather than give in and take the easier path during those times when life tosses me a curveball or two. These teachers continue to push me in the direction of my better self and for that I am very grateful.

And, finally, they taught me how to be a better teacher myself. Whether it be in the role of father, coach or employer, I learned to take these roles very seriously and make the most of the opportunities to help others to see the greatness within them that they often fail to see on their own. It's hard at times, and it would be much easier to just lower the bar and let them coast at their own chosen levels rather than fight through the doubts, the whining and the basic human laziness. But then I think of the time and energy that these teachers invested in me many years ago and I realize that I have an obligation to return that favor to others. Ultimately, I see that the struggle is worth the effort as there is nothing more magical than the moment when a person "gets it" and does something that they had earlier thought to be impossible.

For all of these gifts, I want to say: Thank you, Miss Halpin. You were one of the good ones and I feel eternally grateful for having the good fortune to sit in your classroom all those years ago. Because of you, I am now going in the direction of my dreams and living the life that you helped me to imagine.

Amherst Girls Fast Pitch Suburban League Softball tryouts will be held May 17 and 18 according to the following schedule (All tryout sessions will be held on the Amherst Regional Middle School softball field): May 17; 12 to 2 p.m., interested fifth- and sixth-grade girls (U12); 2 to 4 p.m., interested seventh- and eighth-grade girls (U14); May 18, 12 to 2 p.m., interested fifth- and sixth-grade girls (U12); 2 to 4 p.m., interested seventh- and eighth-grade girls (U14).

Games will be played from late June through early August. Fee is $135/player, payable after a player has made a team. Questions? Call Bob Brandts @ 259-3144.

Bob Brandts is the sports and recreation director for Amherst Leisure Services. Contact him directly at 259-3144 or brandtsb@amherstma.gov.