ReBirth

Mrs. LeVesques, My High school English teacher, was more than an educator; she was my very first non-relative mentor. Unbeknownst to her, Mrs. LeVesque Birthed something in me that I did not know I had. The year is 2005-2006 school year, it’s the first day of school and everyone is nervous to meet their new teachers. My first period class is English, so I pace fast within Martin High school halls trying to locate Mrs. LeVesques classroom. On any given day, I would gather around the School courtyard with my friends, reminiscing on our summer festivities. Given that we had not seen each other majority of the summer break. Afterwards we would walk each other to our designated classrooms and try to locate our corresponding classrooms together before the bell rings. But today I find myself not wanting to socialize with them before class starts. Instead, I want to make a good impression; by being in class on time. So I rush to class before class begins, and ultimately try and find the best seat.

Being that I am shy and polite, my seating preferences is normal the first row, Infront of the teacher/instructor. It helps keep me focused and less distracted whenever my peers engage in gossips and chitchats, from the back of the room. By seating Infront of the class, I can easily tune them off and focus my attention to the teacher instead, as opposed to seating in the back row seats. The bell finally rings, and everyone scuffle through the hallways to get to their designated classrooms. I am curious to know who, among my peers and friends are in my class with me. As the students arrive in the classroom and make their way to their seats, I realize that I am all alone. None of my friends are taking English as their first period class. There are no familiar faces that I recognize in this class. I immediately go into a panic mode, I ask myself where will I get the courage to stand Infront of the class and introduce myself. Every school year, on the first day of school, each classroom you attended you had to do what they called introductions. It was even engraved on the syllabus as part of the first day curriculum. Introductions simply meant going around the room, introducing yourself. Some teachers made you stand up from your seat, while others made you stand Infront of the classroom to do your introduction. Being that I was shy and had a phobia speaking Infront of the classroom, I dreaded this so-called introduction activity.

I often made sure atleast one of my friends was taking the same subject as me, so we can be in the same classroom together, but not this time. I had to face my fears alone. A few minutes passed by, and Mrs. Levesque finally walked into class. She warmly greeted us and went on to introduce herself. Being that I was seated right Infront of her, I knew the moment of truth was closing in on me. Nevertheless, my worst nightmare was postponed. Instead Mrs. LeVesque asserted she will have us do our introduction the following day. She wanted to try something different and have us engage in a different exercise of introductions. Instead of going around the room talking about yourself all day long, in our respective classes as well. Mrs. LeVesque stated she wanted us to use abstract objects to describe ourselves instead. So, our first assignment was to make a cardboard presentation, describing yourself with abstract objects. Immediately I felt a sense of relief leave my body. Atleast I had till the following day to overcome my fears of doing my introduction. And since I was using abstract objects to describe myself, there would be less talking Infront of the class. Mrs. LeVesque immediately became my favorite teacher that day, with this gesture. By the time second period class approached, I had already gained momentum in tackling my stage presence phobia. I was able to do my introduction in my other classes effortlessly throughout the day. When I got home, I started working on my introduction presentation for English class. Since Mrs. LeVesque had rescued me from my fears and became favorite teacher instantly, I wanted to return the favor. By making a better impression presenting my introduction the following day. The next day, I arrived in school early as usual and decided to practice presenting my presentation to my friends before class started. My friends enjoyed my presentation but stated I should try to speak up a little louder.

The bell finally ranged, and I rushed through the school hallways again trying to make it to class on time. Upon settling in, Mrs. Levesques arrived from the teacher's conference room deeming with joy to see us. She jokingly stated, I see everyone made it back to class okay, I did not scare anybody to drop the class yet. And everyone laughed to ease up our tensions. Mrs. LeVesque then went on to ask if anybody wanted to volunteer and do their presentation first. The whole classroom became silent, complete “crickets”. Not a single soul wanted to make eye contact with Mrs. LeVesques in fear of being picked to do their presentation first. The teacher noticing our tensions, asserted that everyone will have to get up, stand Infront of the class and do their presentation at some point. The sooner you get it over with the better. That statement truly resonated with me that I somehow unconsciously raised my hand and volunteered to go first. Upon coming to the realization of what I had just done, I started to panic once again. But Mrs. Leveques assured me to take my time and just be myself. It is then that I learned to face my phobia heads on and give the best presentation of myself. They say first impressions means a lot, so I had to do just that. I went on to give my presentation effortlessly and by the time I went back to sit down, the whole classroom was still clapping for me. It turns out, half of my peers did not do the assignment. Some stated they merely forgot, while others stated they did not understand it. Approximately, only 8-10 students, including myself completed that assignment. Upon realizing the confusing in the classroom, Mrs. LeVesque stated she enjoyed the presentation of everyone that did their introduction and would love the rest of the students to partake in the exercise as well. So, she gave them an extra day to fulfill their presentation. While re-explaining the assignment to the classroom again, Mrs. LeVesques called me back Infront of the class. She stated my Presentation stood out the most and she wanted to use my cardboard presentation for future references in explaining the exercise to the incoming students the following year. she pointed out how I used a strawberry to describe my sweet side, a sports car to express my drive to be successful, high fashion model to express my passion for clothes and wearing bright colors, a music note symbol to describe my interest in the different genres of music I enjoy, and map of Kenya to show where I originated from. Mrs. LeVesque then requested if I could let her keep my presentation, and I immediately said yes. She stated she would hang it in the classroom as an archive and use it as a reference in the future. I was overwhelmed with emotions that day, not only did I overcome my phobia of stage presence but I won my very first presentation in the process.

At the end of English Class that very day, Mrs. LeVeque called me to the side and inquired whether I had ever considered creative writing or writing in general. I said no, and went on to tell her I was simply completing an assignment she assigned the class. Mrs. LeVeque then mention that I was very creative and talented, and that I should look into writing more. Being that I was relatively a freshman in high school, I did not see this so-called gift/talent Mrs. LeVeques saw in me. I took her remarks as compliments and went on about my business for the rest of the school year. Fast forward to my junior year in high school, I ended up doubling my core classes in order to graduate early. By the time I was a junior, I only had 2 senior classes left to graduate high school. So, I approached my counselor and inquired wither I could combine the remaining 2 core senior classes with my junior classes. My counselor Mrs. Moeller was very understanding and approved me to graduate a year earlier, nevertheless I now had 8 core classes to complete my junior year. As opposed to my peers, whom had 4 core classes and 4 electives daily. I had to tackle 6 junior core classes and 2 senior core classes daily. Respectively I was instructed to sit with the juniors half a semester during pep rallies and the following semester, to sit with the seniors withing the same school year. That brought a lot of stress and confusion in my life once again. My friends could not understand why I would mingle with them half a semester then not being to mingle with them the following semester. I had not told them I was planning to graduate high school early, leave alone not able to attend prom together as a group. I had decided to choose my battles wisely, and kept my early graduation as a secret. One of my senior core classes was English 4, it is safe to say I was taking English 3 and English 4 simultaneously.

The first week of school, my English 4 instructor assigned us an assignment that involves poetry. Once again, I was given a task to bask in my creativity. The improv was “I Am...” and you had to come up with phrases that describes you in poetry form. Each sentences had to start with I am blah blah etc, and you had to rhyme it words that describe you as a person. I went on to create my very first poetry content titled “I am an African Woman”. I used my Africanese to express who I am as a person, once again I ended up winning this class homework challenge. My English 4 teacher also pointed out that I was talented, and needed to nurture and pursue my creating writing techniques. She went on to introduce me poetry.com and insisted I should try submitting an entry into poetry.com, for they have poetry contests for young writers. I had never had of poetry contests leave alone the website, so once again I dismissed her gestures. I had convinced myself this so-called talent they were seeing was just a mere coincident. Besides, I was already tasked with 8 core classes that I needed to pass in order to graduate in 2007. I dismissed the poetry contest suggestions and focused with my senior year studies instead. The following year, my first year in college, I decided to go through my high school memorabilia. Given that my peers were graduating that year and I was supposed to graduate with them had I not opted for early high school graduation. It is then that I came across the poetry.com website my English 4 teacher had referred me to. I immediately surfed the website and came across an ongoing poetry contest. With the ongoing poetry contest deadline approaching, I was not fully equipped to write anything worthy of a contest. I decided to upload my high school poetry project titled “I am” instead. Surprisingly I had memorized my poem for class presentation the previous year, so I just rewrote it and submitted the same poetry in the poetry.com contest. I told myself if my poetry is truly that good, then these professional judges would be able to assure me for a fact. I then hit submit, and went on with my college studies as per usual, not knowing what the future was about to unfold; and the rest was history.

On august 1st,2006; I received a letter in the mail stating I had won once again. “I AM” was being awarded Editor’s chief Award for displaying original creativity and unique perspective most found in exceptional poetry; according to poetry.com judges. I could not believe my eyes, and even as I read the letter; I still convinced myself I was not a writer. The letter invited me to go to California to go attend an official award ceremony, where I would be awarded my Award as well as a commemorative plaque depicting my poem. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend this ceremony nor was I able to order the limited edition Hardbound of my poem due to financial strain. I was fresh into college and trying to make a living of my own. None of my family or relatives even knew about this achievement, I just kept it to myself. I had not fully come to terms with my talent leave alone the financial expenses in pursuit of this achievement. So again, I tossed my gift/talent to the side and went on with my studies as per usual. Two years after this incident, I relocated to Houston in pursuit of my college degree. Once again I had double up on my classes in order to meet the deadline for my scheduled Graduation in 2011. I ended up taking literature 1 and 2 simultaneously once again. With any English course, there’s a lot of essays and summaries evolvement. But when you double up in literature, its triple the work along with creative writing. I had forgotten my talent/gift since the poetry incident up until my final year in college. The year is 2011, I am partaking in British literature as well as world literature simultaneously. On one given assignment, we were instructed to visit the Houston Museum and select two sculptures/statues or picture of your choice and do an essay on both. Your selected sculptures or pictures of choice had to correlate to you as a person as well as your perspective in literature.

Once again, I tapped into my creativity side and won that class assignment. My literature professor also called me aside and inquired whether I had ever considered writing as a profession. I bluntly said no, stating this was just a hobby of mines. Nothing serious. Unbeknown to him that 2 other English teachers from my past had previously made the same assumptions about me. The number 3 meaning trinity, it is then that I realized, this was a confirmation. I then decided to start nurturing my talent by tapping deeper into my creativity side. I came to the conclusion of writing a short story book and ultimately making the last chapter about my greatest life achievement, securing a Ph.D. and seeing my mother’s reaction as she receives my accomplishment. You see my Mother was my greatest support system that cheered me along the way for every milestone I ever accomplished. Every time I succeeded in something or finished a certain level with schooling, she would always assert “You did Good Nyarkaleo, lakini this is not a PHD. I Need a PHD in my House” meaning, You have done Great, my child but you haven't reached your highest/full potential just yet. I need a Ph.D. in my household with your name engraved in it. Like Mrs. LeVeque, My Mother saw potential in me and believed in my talent long before I even knew I was gifted/talented. I wanted to make a good impression to my Mother just like a had done in Mrs. LeVesque English Class back in high school. I vowed to work harder on my manuscript and decided the final chapter would be of my life challenges, trials and tribulations. The quest of securing my mother her Ph.D. that she had countlessly asked for. Unfortunately, my mother passed away in 2015 leaving my dream of creative writing scattered once again. Her untimely death changed the trajectory of my life both negatively and positively. On one hand, It birthed myself titled book “Memoirs of A Dutiful Daughter” depicting the transition of my grieving process and transitioning back to normal lifestyle. And on the other hand, It also placed my short story book in hiatus. I had given up writing for some time. I wanted my short story book to have a happy ending, but with my mother gone, who will receive my happy ending accomplishments. Leave alone, what purpose do I have finishing school if the person that inspired my greatest life achievement is no longer living. I battled with the concept of changing the ending of that manuscript for a long period of time, before ultimately deciding to finish what I started. And just like My Mother’s death changed my Life Trajectory, I decided to incorporate my manuscripts final ending by tapping into my creativity side as the final chapter instead. What started as a mere assignment in Mrs. LeVeques English Class has since birthed into passion. I now find peace and joy in writing. I can freely express myself on pen and paper, I no longer take my gift/talented for granted. I have also since learned to embrace my talent and see what the future holds for me. They say in life, there are people that make you or break you. And Mrs LeVesque taught me what being passionate about your profession truly means. Being an educator is more than just teaching; Mrs LeVeque is not just my high school English teacher, she is my “Hometown Hero and mentor. She Birthed talent out of me and helped curb my stage presence phobia. And I will forever be grateful. Stay tuned for my short story book, it is still a working process. And the best is still Unwritten.