People Who Inspired Me To Be A Writer: Tara Pigeon

When I started my junior year of high school in the fall of 2009, my 4th block 11th grade English teacher ended up being a New York native with a feisty attitude named Tara Pidgeon. Upon first meeting her, most of us students were very drawn to her in a way that we were not drawn to most teachers. Being that she was younger than most other English teachers we found her very relatable, yet she had a firm hand of discipline in regards to keeping us in line.

Starting with my graduating class in 2009, students at my high school were required to complete what was called a junior project, which was basically a preparation and first half completion of our eventual senior project for our final year in high school. The career I focused on for my project was that of a musical career and thanks to Tara Pidgeon my subject for my senior project was going to be censorship in music. When it came to writing all my papers and making sure I was grammatically and thematically correct, she made sure I stayed on top of everything, and she even made sure I presented myself properly for my eventual junior project presentation which I did very well in presenting.

I definitely did great having Tara as a guide for all my steps that year, she really served as a good mentor for my literary direction in a way of which I don't think she was aware. One day in class a fellow student tried to pick on me and Tara actually went off on this kid and gave her a few choice words in my defense, that alone instantly made her one of my favorite teachers ever. I always joked to Tara about being one of her favorite students, but she always shrugged it off like "oh whatever, don't flatter yourself, you're just a smart kid and I'm just giving you the guidance that a smart kid needs”.

Following the untimely death of my mother at the end of the summer of 2010, I ended up having Tara for 12th grade English in the fall semester. Upon our first encounter on the first day of class I informed her of my mother's death and she gave me a warm hug that almost brought me to tears. As that fall semester progressed leading to the conclusion of my senior project, Tara would gradually help to shape me into a better writer with her every classwork and homework assignment. She did this by helping me to properly present my every word, phrase, and view point in a way that would be captivating to every listener of my presentation and reader of my papers. At the end of the school year on senior awards night she presented me with an award for best senior project.

In the 11 years since I graduated high school, Tara Pidgeon is still one of my biggest mentors and dearest friends. Three years after I graduated high school she asked me to come volunteer to judge senior projects for her graduating class of 2013 at my old high school. What I didn't realize when I was judging these projects was I was giving her students the same kind of advice Tara had given me on how to be well spoken, how not be nervous, and how to be mindful of one's bodily movements as they were presenting. I also made an effort to give them the same words of inspiration and encouragement that she had given me as well. I guess this was another testament to how the positive impact she made on me stayed in my spirit and how I was meant to pass it on as she had given it to me. The guidance that Tara Pidgeon gave me in those last couple years of high school helped to make me a great writer and I will carry that knowledge she gave me forever.

--For Tara, thank you for your mentorship.