Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Remembering Travis Panasiuk

Travis Panasiuk was a very special student. There are very few people I allow to get close to me. To allow them to see the person behind the instructor. Travis snuck into my heart when I wasn’t looking. That is something he was famous for. He was such a gentle spirit. He had an easy nature, and a warmth that radiated for all to feel.

He was an inspiration to everyone he came into contact with. Everyone found friendship in his very being. Regardless of age, Travis made the person he spoke with feel listened to, understood, and most of all special. He gave of himself freely and asked nothing in return. He would often seem surprised that he was thought so highly of by others. Travis was truly humble, and in that humility was his beauty. Like all people, he wanted to be appreciated and loved, but unlike most people, he did nothing to actively draw attention to himself to receive that much desired attention. Instead he simply was, and in so being, was truly miraculous. He lived that which he wanted the world to be. He lead by example, quietly, and that was his power.

It was hard not to notice Travis. Though soft spoken, he allowed his actions to speak for him, and that was heard by all who knew him, and even those who didn’t. Every instructor hopes for a student like Travis. One who has the passion for what he was learning, regardless of the lesson. A student who never gave up in the face of failure. A person who embraces the ideals of bettering themselves and in so doing, betters the world around him. A student by their presence alone inspires others to become better people. As an instructor of 17 years, I strive to have the impact on others that this young man had on everyone around him, including me.

It was hard not to think of Travis as a little brother. I felt very protective of him, and hoped with all my heart that the goals he set for himself would be realized. That the world would return the kindness and beauty he showed it. I miss him and hurt every time I realize I will never again see him walk through the door, black hat, warm smile and all. Travis has changed our school, he will always have a home here, and in the hearts of those who knew him. I miss him, now and always.

Find peace Travis, and know you made a difference.

Sifu Lisa Freitag

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Making a difference

I'm not one for mushy internet poems, friendship lovie dovie nonsense, or pass the message along stuff. I have no idea if this is true or not (probably not), but the message is very clear, at least to me. This was sent to me by a friend, and I feel that it reenforces that we need to look beyond your preconceived notions of people. There is more to most people than we give them credit for. How many of us have judged people, and treated them according to that judgement with out really understanding what has taken them to where they are? I'm guilty of it. I also know that a world that uses more empathy and less social judgment is with in our grasp. All we have to do is start practicing what we preach.

So with out further ado, here's the mushy stuff, with a strong message.


As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the fron t row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.



Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big 'F' at the top of his papers.



At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.



Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around. .'



His second grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.'



His third grade teacher wrote, 'His moth er's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but h is father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.'



Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class.'



By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, ex cept for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, 'Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.'


After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, sh e quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her 'teacher's pets..'



A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.



Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.



Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honours. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favourite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.



Then four more years passed and yet another letter cam e. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, h e decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favourite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.



The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of cou rse, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the o ne with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.



They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, 'Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.'



Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, 'Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you.'



(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)