Fame is fleeting, and the people with true importance in our lives may remain famous only in our high regard for what they have done for us.
They are not unknown, but they are definitely underappreciated. Many among them were your teachers, professors, and just the people on the job who showed you the ropes, and much more that you needed to know. They are known to you and others they taught, but mostly unknown to history.
For me, my third-grade teacher at the Ludlum School in Hempstead, Long Island, Mrs. Kresge, tops the list. She took a kid who had been held back a grade, could barely read, and turned him into an avid lifetime reader. She created the foundation for my lifetime love of reading and my ability to educate myself.
Then there was Professor Elizabeth “Ma” Barker at Boston University’s Metropolitan College. She introduced me to ancient, Classical, Renaissance, and modern literature while teaching me about the “City” as a concept and a human construct.
Those two were formal teachers, but I’d mention my father, Nicholas Aladar Carreras, as an inspiration in helping with a sense of application in trade craft. Without really noting it, my background in manual skills was gained from observing and helping my father. Basics like how to use the hand and power tools found in a shop, both safely and effectively. As a kid, I had zero intention of working manually. But as an adult, I found those skills and knowledge waiting for me, carefully put away against need and want.
Later in life, I ran into Mike Leone and Cathy Davies at Arlington Cable Systems, who generously taught me about tripods, video cameras, and editing video. These were skills that I incorporated into my work as an anthropologist and gradually helped provide an income.
Life has not always been plush, comfortable, or enjoyable, but each of those individuals imparted some critical insight, training, knowledge, or skill that helped me succeed. They aren’t famous, except to the other people whose lives they impacted and me.
And anyway, fame is fleeting. And a positive impact on the lives of others may be more lasting. You won’t be famous like that idiotic baboon of a politician, but you may have a more lasting, beneficial effect on people’s lives.
Discover more from Louis N. Carreras, Woodcarver
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I couldn’t agree more, Lou. I still remember a brilliant teacher who had a big impact on me and my self confidence in my teenage years, and others who left their positive marks and helped shape the person I am now. These people, whom we have known and learned from as individuals – rather than as part of a mass population – will stay with us throughout our lives, whereas the ‘idiotic baboon’ (love it!) and all his over-powerful peers across the globe may be remembered in some way, a big way even, but for all the wrong reasons. Give me the little, positive connections over the ruling morons every time! 🙂
All those little positive connections do add up over time!
For me, it was my junior English teacher in high school, Mr Bradley, who instilled in me an even greater love of reading–especially John Steinbeck. In grammar school, I ‘was not working up to my potential’ according to the teachers. His quiet little push with the books we had to read in his class was a turning point. Bless the teachers who break through to the kids who are just waiting for the right one to come along.
I think that we were their successes. And what they were aiming at.
This is a beautiful post. I owe a lot to the teachers who ‘got’ me all the way through school.
I hear you! Dedicated people.
You made me think of a famous music teacher at my high school. I wrote a blog post about his retirement party, where I said, “In this tiny town with a population sign that announces 533 residents, fifty former students showed up and we increased the town’s population by ten percent!” https://crystaltrulove.com/2024/06/03/highlights-of-idaho-road-trip/
To bad they weren’t taking the Census that day.
Ha ha!!