English 3 by Fabian

English 3 by Fabian - March 2023 Scholarship Essay

Her name was Mrs. Notari, and despite the social circumstances, the gloomy weather, and the annoying teenagers, she found a reason to smile. She was an English teacher, so I understand why her insight and authority mattered more to me than any other teacher I had previously. In my writing, she encouraged the expression of my thoughts and ideas regardless of how personal. She wasn’t the character to judge. If she ever did, it was to teach or help you understand something further. Mrs. Notari helped me develop a passion for writing: journaling in specific. Her assignments felt more than just forcibly written documents. They felt like a key to expressing my mind, creativity, and life.
I was her student as a junior in high school, and an assignment I remember was a poetry project she assigned as a final assignment weeks before the summer break. I remember being in such a terrible place mentally. I felt trapped in my own body. I had no outlook, no way to relieve myself of the stress and anxiety I so deeply possessed. The poetry assignment was simple: create fifteen to twenty poems about specific topics. I remember feeling so content as I described the mystery of death, my anxiety about the degradation of the environment, and the fear of coming to terms with my sexuality. As I created these poems, I thought: do I want to share these things with my English 3 teacher? It took me hours for my ruling to become absolute, and I knew Mrs. Notari would not shame me for anything I wrote or expressed through these poems. Indeed, she didn’t. I was praised for my great use of literary techniques and congratulated on the extent of my topics. She gave me a reason to smile that year.
Mrs. Notari constantly reminded me to strive for advancement because she took the time to get to know me and recognized that I had unused potential. She was right, but I couldn’t see it at the time. So, I ignored her constant offers to switch to an advanced English class. Additionally, she encouraged everyone to delve into the complexities and themes of the novels we read. The way she taught the material wasn’t lackluster, and it pushed me to read books outside of class during my leisure time. I remember asking her, “Mrs. Notari, If you could choose one book to recommend to someone else, what would it be?”. The confusion and enjoyment she got from the question made me realize how seriously she took the question. I respected her for her earnest yet comical nature. She gave me the name of a book the following day: Cry the Beloved Country. I still have it in my library. Yes, it was a good book too.
Unfortunately, she switched schools after junior year ended, and I lost all contact with her. I believe she would’ve been able to guide me through the college application process and future English concepts and conversation had I found a way to reach her, but it’s okay. She taught me that writing is an expression of character, and I’m grateful I found a way to express myself. Thank you, Mrs. Notari, for everything you did to help me learn.