Mr. Pattillo - A Diploma And A Better Life

In the year 2000, I got out of a violent relationship and decided to put myself through school.  I went to a GED school called Bronx Equal Opportunity Center and that is where I met Mr. Pattillo. He was my GED instructor. When I first met him I was afraid of him because he looked and sounded so mean. After a few days in his class, I began to see that he was a very caring teacher. I remember that I was extremely shy and he would keep picking on me.

At first I thought that he was just being mean because he knew that I was shy, but then I began to realize that he was trying to break me out of that shyness.  I would always say no to getting up in front of the class and he would insist that I get up or I will fail his class. I thought to myself, “what does speaking in front of class have to do with getting my diploma?” Little by little I started losing my fear of speaking in public.  Mr. Pattillo saw in me things that I did not see in myself. He had the faith in me that I did not have in myself. He continued to pick on me until the end of school.

The week of graduation, Mr. Pattillo selected me as school Valedictorian. I was honored and at the same time so embarrassed and I even told him that I would not speak in front of hundreds of people. He told me that I am a very intelligent woman and that is the reason why he chose me. I was flattered and I spoke in front of about five hundred people. I really do not remember what I said because I was so nervous but I did it and ever since then, I have put myself through college and am teaching special needs children. All thanks to one person having so much faith in me.