Dear Ms. Siegel,
High school is a time of change, growing, triumph and tears. There are very few constants and even fewer consistent good times in those four years. One of the few consistently good times I experienced in high school was in the choir room with you. Though at the time, you were Ms. Lieberman, the incredible teacher in you did not change after you got married. I have had plenty of good teachers and plenty of bad ones in my educational career. I can honestly say that you were one of those exceptionally brilliant teachers. You are caring, understanding and wise beyond your years. I never felt any negative feelings when you were in the vicinity.
I was blessed with having Mrs. Christine Bass as a choir director for a year before she forcibly retired. Lost, confused and upset, we were left with Ms. Delp. Though a young, sassy, more contemporary teacher, the drastic change and confusion left us on our heads. All out of sorts, we had you come along. Small and strong, quiet but fierce, and above all caring, you brought our choir back to the home I found as a freshman.
Let me paint a picture for you. It’s the Spring Concert, the last concert of the year. After four years singing with some of these kids, I was emotional (which is a feat). Even in class and in rehearsals, as the time got closer for us to stand on that stage one last time, we were all feeling this bittersweet excitement building up in our stomachs.
With graduation, college, and our futures on our mind, we stepped onto that stage. I remember just feeling the crazy stillness within the choir. It was as if every senior, every member of the choir, was connected. You raised your arms and we took our last, first breath. When it was time for us to sing “Precious Lord,” tears welled in my eyes. In that moment we were all one voice, soaring high above the clouds. I don’t know who grabbed whose hand first, but we all stood there, hands intertwined, singing those last chords, not one of us with a dry eye (which I’m pretty sure you started). We stepped off that stage with a bond that we would not share with any other group of people.
It seems that society hates when students find a teacher that they love, but don’t let them get you down. You have made such a great impact on my life. I am not singing in a choir anymore but at times, my mind still drifts back to those rehearsals where you pushed us harder than we wanted to give, making us better singers (and people). All those moments where we all just wanted to put you in our pocket, make you proud, or just laugh, are stored in all of our hearts.
I hope that things get better for you, Mrs. Siegel, and I hope to see you (and the rest of the family) sometime soon.
Best of luck,
(Do, re,) Mi
