USD Magazine Summer 2007

EDI TOR IAL L I CENSE

USD MAGAZINE

[ e d i t o r ] Julene Snyder julene@sandiego.edu [ c l a s s n o t e s e d i t o r ] Kelly Knufken kellyk@sandiego.edu [ a r t d i r e c t o r ] Barbara Ferguson barbaraf@sandiego.edu [ p r o o f r e a d i n g ] Fawnee Evnochides [ f e a t u r e p h o t o g r a p h e r ] Suda House Tim Mantoani Marshall Williams [ i l l u s t r a t o r s ] Barbara Ferguson [ w e b d e s i g n ] Michael James michaeljames@sandiego.edu [ w e b s i t e ] www.sandiego.edu/usdmag [ a s s i s t a n t v i c e p r e s i d e n t o f u n i v e r s i t y m a r k e t i n g a n d c r e a t i v e s e r v i c e s ] Coreen Petti [ u s d m a g a z i n e ] is published by the University of San Diego for its alumni, parents and friends. Editorial offices: USD Magazine , Publications Office, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110. Third-class postage paid at San Diego CA 92110. USD phone number (619) 260-4600. Postmaster: Send address changes to USD Magazine , Publications Office, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110-2492. [ m i s s i o n s t a t e m e n t ] The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic institution committed to advancing academic excellence, expanding liberal and professional knowledge, creating a diverse and inclusive community, and preparing leaders dedicated to ethical conduct and compassionate service. U N I V E R S I T Y O F S A N D I E G O [ p r e s i d e n t ] Mary E. Lyons, Ph.D. [ v i c e p r e s i d e n t o f u n i v e r s i t y r e l a t i o n s ] Timothy L. O’Malley

LEARNING TO FLY The best teacher you ever had might be closer than you think [ d e v o t i o n ]

R

eading, reading, she was always reading. Most often, she read at the kitchen table but she also read in bed, she read on a blanket on the grass, she read on the couch, she read in front of theTV, she read and read and read, and it drove us kids crazy howwe’d have to repeat ourselves aminimumof three times before she’dmark her spot and look up at us, eyes far away, as if for amoment she couldn’t quite place us, couldn’t quite remember just who we were or what we wanted fromher.

But when she read out loud tome, I discovered exactly how intoxicating it feels to be lost in a book. Inmymemory, we are in a roomand it is daytime and she is perched on a high three-legged stool. I amat her feet and she is reading, and I don’t want her to ever, ever stop. She read“Black Beauty”and“Swiss Family Robinson”and“Hans Brinker,”every day a new chapter, worlds unfolding like a kaleidoscope, images layering one atop the next: noble horses and shipwrecked families and brave Dutch children, firingmy imaginationwith stories, leavingme withmy own pair of faraway eyes. Beyond teachingme to love stories, she taught me without my even knowing I was being taught, perhaps the smartest way to reach a child. Shemade up a game with index cards on the floor, leading in curving pathways from one room to the next. As I learned the definitions of the increasingly harder words that were written on each, I would get a prize. But none of the trinkets were as thrilling as when I came upwith the correct definition of“gargantuan,”and she toldme I was smart and talented and could be anything I wantedwhen I grew up. The truth is, she never stopped teachingme.WhenMiss Avitable told the entire second grade classroom that I didn’t have any friends and I went home crying so hard I started hiccupping, mymommarched over to the school and yelled at the teacher, then she stormed off to the principal and read him the riot act for awhile, and to tell you the truth, I wouldn’t be surprised if she wound up hollering at the entire school board. She taught me that she was onmy side, always, and she taught me that no one is allowed tomakeme feel bad, not evenme. Over the years, she’s kept right on teachingme, modeling compassion and loyalty, generosity and humor, righteous anger temperedwith empathy. Andwhen I think about her, the best teacher I ever had, I know that I am lucky to have amother who cared somuch about expandingmymind and feedingmy soul with challenges and praise and high expectations. And I amat least as proud of her as she is of me. That’s saying a lot, because as we all know, great moms take great pride in their children, andmine is no exception. As you read this issue built around the theme of education, take a moment to think of those who taught you all you know. And if you’d like to share, by all means, let me know, because I still love a good story.

— Julene Snyder, Editor

[0507/52300]

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