daniel the teacher
In the fall of 1997 I was thrilled to be starting a new job teaching Grade Six at John Costello Catholic School. I had known the Hickey’s since the early 80’s, as they were and still are very dear friends of my sister, Julia Turnbull. I had met Daniel and Thomas a couple of times when they were really small, but hadn’t seen them for quite some time. I was pretty certain that Daniel would be in my class that year.
On the first day of school, all the teachers went out on to the playground to greet the students. We were supposed to gather them in their classes, and usher them in. Everyone was excited, the first day of school is always such a special time. The kids were all trying to guess who their teacher would be, what class they would be in, etc. As we were trying to round them up, I overheard a student say, “I hope she is my teacher”. It was Daniel, and he was pointing at me. I didn’t think much of it, and thought perhaps Roberta had told him about me.
This Gr. Six class was HUGE!! There were 35 kids in the class. Daniel was definitely one of the leaders. He was kind, inclusive, funny as hell, and yes sometimes even a little mischievous! At one point Ed Schell, the principal, had told the kids that they were going to have to split the class because it was too large. The kids implored him not to do it, and he said “well if you promise to behave for Mrs. Leong, we will try to keep you together.” They did promise, and together they stayed. This ended up being one of the most memorable classes I have ever had. Twenty-three years later, and I still remember so many moments.
About two months into the school year, I said to Daniel, “Why did you say you hoped I would be your teacher?” He looked at me, with that little crooked grin he had, and said, “because you looked so happy, and I wanted to be around you”. Such a simple statement, but the single most important thing that any student has ever said to me in my 36 year career. From that moment on, I always remembered what Daniel had said. It has honestly been the guiding light for how I have conducted myself throughout my career. You can have fancy lesson plans, bulletin boards that are a work of art, and teach with the most up to date technology, but in the end it is how you make your students feel when they are with you. I have never forgotten that.
I was lucky enough to teach both Daniel and Thomas, it was truly an honour. Such incredible young men. Through the years I have always tried to keep up to date with how they are doing, seeing them from time to time at special events. I was so thrilled to hear that Daniel and Jocelyn had found each other. Every photo I have seen of them is so full of joy and love. It also makes me very happy to know that he got to be a Dad to Windsor. I know that many, many people will make sure that Windsor knows what an incredible man her father was.
As I followed Daniel’s journey through his illness, it brought such joy to my heart to see that those same boys who were his buddies in that Grade Six class so long ago, were some of the people at his bedside in his final days. Making him laugh, holding his hand and loving him. An amazing tribute to a man who has been taken from his loved ones far too soon, but in his short time taught us all so much. I wish I had told Daniel how those words on that first day of school impacted my life, I just never thought it would matter to him. Yet one more lesson from the student to the teacher. Rest in Peace, Daniel, you were so loved.
-Jennifer Leong