I’d really like you to meet Ruth Swezey.
Truth be told, she will always be Mrs. Swezey to me. She was my English teacher at Hector High School and even though she is completely fine with me calling her Ruth now – after all, it’s been 27 years since I graduated – in my head, she will always be Mrs. Swezey.
I am writing today in large part because of the influence this amazing teacher had on me. She was smart, tough and shared her passion for good grammar, proper spelling and classic literature.
Every time I write a blog post, I think of her. Should I put a comma there? Is it okay to begin a sentence with “and” just because I like the way it flows? Does this sentence run on and on … and on?
Mrs. Swezey could rip apart the grammatical sections of a sentence like nobody’s business and ingrained this art (sometimes I think it’s a lost art) in many of us who took her classes. (If I have any classmates who are reading this, they will know what I mean.)
She was – and still is – a grammar legend.
She also loved to recommend books for me to read when I wondered into the school library, which was often. And she gushed over a book report I wrote on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, so much so that I know she used it as an example of what a good book report really is for future classes. (I have to admit, I was an English nerd and I loved that!)
With just a few days left of high school, I distinctly remember when she and I met in the high school gym, enroute to whatever it was that was going on that afternoon. She pulled me aside and told me that she had taught two students in her entire career whom she felt would go on to write a book. The first student had already done so; the second student was me.
That simple statement had a profound impact on me. I haven’t quite pulled off the book yet (isn’t this blog a good start?), but I also haven’t lost sight of that goal either.
Each Christmas, I receive a hand-written letter from Mrs. Swezey, updating me on what she is doing and how her family is faring. Perfect penmanship and well-constructed sentences – I expect nothing less and I look forward to her letter each holiday season. I try to return the favor, although my letters are always typed on my laptop and I will include a copy of one or two of my blog posts that I think she may enjoy.
Teacher Man and I ran into her at my hometown church a few weeks ago, after our niece’s baptism. She gave me a hug, squeezed my hand and then chatted about the challenges of teaching, then vs. now. She recalled fondly a student she had taught 60 years ago, remembering him by name (yes, by name!) and telling us exactly the very specific challenges she had had with him – all with a sparkle in her eye.
I remember that sparkle 27 years ago, but I don’t recall if I ever really thanked her for being an inspiration to me. This week – National Teacher Appreciation Week – seems like an appropriate time.
Mrs. Swezey – thank you for your encouragement, for challenging me, for staying in touch and for those hugs I get each time I see you in Hector. And someday, I will write this thank you inside the front cover of my first book, I promise.
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This is lovely, Lara. Well said!
Lara: I also remember Mrs Swezey as the one teacher who encouraged me to write the poems and stories that I still write(and wish I had more time to do)How fortunate we were to have had her. Remember I’m a lot older than you but Mrs Swezey hasn’t changed at all. Thankyou for your blog, I enjoy reading them.
Thank you, Marlys! I agree – Mrs. Swezey hasn’t changed a bit and she is still as passionate about writing and reading now as she was decades ago. It’s amazing to think of how many students she has influenced over her many years of teaching! 🙂
Mine was Mrs. Litt, my seventh grade algabra teacher. She made math easier for the rest of my life.
John
That’s an amazing gift, John … I had a music teacher, also, who truly nurtured my talent and made me see what I was capable of musically. Pretty cool, to say the least!
I too recall her every time I hear someone say something grammatically incorrect. I also try to recall the correct structure of the sentence when writing. She really was a great teacher, not “fun” per say but certainly reached the students. I look forward to your book:). I wonder how Mrs. Swezey feels about emoticons.
Exactly – she was tough (and few of us really thought grammar sentence structure was fun, that’s for sure) but she really made an impact. The emoticon question is humorous – I might have to ask her about that! 🙂
Oh Oh! Did you mean to have 1 grammatical error in this blog? I too had Mrs. Swezey and she definitely gave me an eye for correct grammar!
LOL – it’s tough to write a blog post about the grammar legend! 🙂
Mrs. Swezey was the ” gold standard” for other staff members at the old Hector High School when I taught there.
Lara, I think I can speak for the staff at that time that you were wonderful to have in the classroom/bandroom!
I love reading your blog and Facebook posts and am looking forward to your book. Perhaps you’ll sign my copy for me?!?!!
Of course I will sign a copy especially for you! 🙂 I could write a entire blog post on the ways you inspired me to play flute and continue with my music – so thank you for that! I definitely feel blessed to have some amazing teachers in my life who helped shape me into who I am today. I wish the same for my son and for so many kids out there today!
I would have to agree with you wholeheartedly! Ruth – thank you so much (comma or no comma ?) for not only, being a great teacher but also, a wonderful neighbor and fine Christian example.
Thanks Lori – I will definitely relay your thanks to Ruth as well when I send her a copy of this blog post. 🙂
There are many extraordinary teachers. They become even more so when paired with an extraordinary student, which it seems like you were. Got ideas for your book?!
Lots of little ideas percolating, Colby … time will tell! 🙂
I too remember Mrs. Swezey’s instruction in diagramming sentences with fondness. Alas, that is a lost art in today’s schools. I continue to count myself fortunate to have been one of her students. Teachers really do touch lives!
Thanks for stopping by, Janet – it’s great to hear from you! 🙂 Agreed on the lost art … Mrs. Swezey was truly a gem and we were very lucky.
Lara