THE LONGVIEW VOICE — June 19, 2023
Page 5
HUDSON PEP LAMPLIGHTER Mrs. Player has gotten even better with time
By Silas Gilbert Fifth Grade, Hudson PEP
M
EET THE TEACHER! It’s the first time students meet the person who will be teaching them for nine and a half months. At Meet the Teacher for third grade, I was terrified. Yes, COVID was happening, but the school was able to get all the third-grade teachers together so we could still have Meet the Teacher from our cars. As we drove up to what I thought was my never-ending doom, I was as terrified as a sloth sitting next to a hungry T-Rex. My mom rolled down my window, and I saw my teacher. Once I saw her, I was sure she was not mean. I was not as terrified as before, but I was still rather scared. She spoke with a nice, kind voice to prove everything was okay. Then the first day of school came. Thoughts like “Was she just acting nice for Meet the Teacher to deceive me?” and “What if she hates my guts?” went through my head. At the door, I stopped and took a breath and told myself it will be fine, saying “Calm down, Silas. Do not worry. Everything might—no—will be fine!” After one more deep breath and a lot of self-encouragement, I was ready to open the door. I walked inside to see what I thought was going to be a nightmare. I was actually wrong about Mrs. Player. She was better than I thought! She was funny, nice, and kind. She taught me so much. Mrs. Player made me enjoy
English/language arts with fun projects and activities. She gave great examples, was always happy, and was kind to me and very accepting. I was on the brink of filling my car with tears when third grade was over. I missed Mrs. Player. When fourth grade arrived, I was so happy to see her again. Once fourth grade was over, I was very, very sad because I knew I would miss Mrs. Player, Mrs. Campbell, and Mrs. Mahaffey too. However, a few months later I was as ecstatic as a bouncy ball. I was bouncing up and down, left and right, through my house when I heard the best news of my life. I was
going to have Mrs. Player as my teacher again! She had moved to teach fifth grade! A once in a million—no, a one in a billion—chance had happened to me. However, Mrs. Player had changed. She got even better! She is so nice and has had such an impact on my life. I always become super excited when going into her classroom. She gives rewards for right answers in class, and she is super understanding, funny, and kind. I am so happy to have Mrs. Player as my teacher again this year. Just being in her class makes me happy. She is the best teacher I have ever had.
FOREST PARK LAMPLIGHTER
Mr. Wilson does more than coach, he inspires
By Nathan McCrory
Eighth Grade, Forest Park
J
ohn Wooden once said, “A good coach can change a game, but a great coach can change a life.” My lamplighter, Coach Stephen Wilson, has not just helped coach me, but his inspiration has also affected me in many ways. Coach Wilson is not just any coach. He does not just look at what is in front of him. He also looks to the future of every player to make the player the best he can be. His end goal is not only to win on the field but also to develop men of character and discipline. Coach Wilson has accomplished this goal by pushing me to my limits, developing my potential, and showing me the importance of family. He has greatly influenced my life and my future. Football is mentally, physically, and emotionally challenging. Every day in practice, I am pushed beyond what I think I can bear. Many days throwing in the towel seems like the best option, but Coach Wilson has taught me to dig deep and never give up. I can hear his encouraging words now—“Change gears, McCrory!” Whether it was finally maxing out on the
bench press or running gassers, Coach Wilson has always pushed me to excellence. From my experience, the lessons he has taught me have not only helped me on the field, but they have also aided me in my daily life. I have learned that just
because something is hard does not mean I cannot accomplish it. In fact, there is no task too big for me to overcome. If it were not for Coach Wilson and the lessons Forest||Continued to page 11 Forest
