Why Do We Have to Read This Book? Haley B. Williams

"Darcy, why do we have to read this book?" I complained after school. "This book isn’t just stupid, it has no relevance in my life at all." Because she was used to me asking questions like this, her only response was, "Because I told you. And I'm your teacher." Darcy, or Mrs. Romondo, as I was supposed to call her, was my English teacher both my freshman and sophomore year. Not only was she one of the best teachers I've ever had, her influence on my academic career has impacted me in ways that resound throughout the rest of my life.

I met Mrs. Romondo on the first day of my freshmen year in high school. I had gone to a relatively small middle school the two years previous, where I had known everyone, from the students to the faculty and staff. My high school had almost 1000 additional students along with dozens more faculty and staff, none of whom knew who I was or anything about me. On top of that, I was a little 14-year-old, walking the halls with almost seven foot tall seniors. Put lightly, I was terrified. Adding to that, the majority of my new teachers were more worried about controlling the thirty out of control students, than in reassuring one student. However, when I walked Mrs....