Notes on a Favorite Teacher/Ruminate

This was in the Readers’ Notes section of Ruminate Magazine’s Forged/Summer 2021 issue:

My ninth grade English class was in an old room with scratched hardwood floors, giant windows, and dark green blackboards. I felt extreme discomfort and embarrassment as I walked down the aisle to my seat in the back each day. All the cool girls wore tight designer jeans and lots of mascara, but not pleated jeans, saddle-shoed me.

Mr. Northern, the only black teacher I ever had, was of medium build and dressed neatly in dress slacks, shirt,
and tie. I don’t remember much about his lessons, but do recall his energy and excitement about teaching. And I remember that one writing assignment that found me at home, leaning into the circular table in our den, scribbling away on loose-leaf, describing my favorite boxed chocolate chip cookies—a rare moment of joy in that new-kid, outsider year.

A few days after handing in the cookie essay, I entered Mr. Northern’s room and began my usual awkward journey to my desk. Snapping out of my haze of self- consciousness, I immediately recognized my essay hanging on the bulletin board. A big red letter “A” followed by multiple plusses was scrawled across the top of my paper with a word, one I would always remember, “Superlative,” written in Mr. Northern’s robust hand.

Such a small thing, but this would be one of the greatest days of my life, the day where my sense of self was restored and my future life would start to take shape.

MAGGIE NERZ IRIBARNE, SYRACUSE, NY