Dan Page Remembers

Dan Page was Avi's English teacher at HHNE. Last week, he sent me an email with this recollection:

Just thought you'd appreciate knowing that I thought of Avi a lot yesterday.

It doesn't feel like three years and one day...

...the last time I saw Avi, he was hanging at the back of a group of students who wanted "goodbye" hugs before February break. He clearly wanted to be accepted within the group, but was a little unsure of our relationship, in that he had only recently joined the class. I extended my arm and embraced him, then, with my arm over his shoulder, steered him toward Mrs. Blitzer. Keeping my arm around him, I told Mrs. Blitzer in some detail the improvements Avi had made in my class, including excellent grades on a quiz and homework assignment. He was a little shy of this at first, but his face lit up when she praised his efforts and encouraged him to continue on that path to scholarship and to success. He looked like he finally was happy with his role as a student in the secular studies program.

Avi's copy of Julius Caesar remains on his shelf. He was reading it for Mr. Page's class.