(This is a note I signed in a memorial guestbook for Dr. Schuster, my favorite college professor)
In 1982, I was a college freshman, at Penn State, in Abington. I didn’t exactly set the world on fire in high school, and I came to college determined to turn around my questionable reputation as a student. My first day, I showed up in Dr. Schuster’s class. He was charming, charismatic and energetic. Our first assignment: a descriptive essay. I summoned up as many vocabulary words I remembered from high school, and painstakingly wrote a five-page essay, describing a day in my life. To my horror, he refused to grade the paper, and returned it to me with a note simply stating, “This isn’t what I asked for. You need to re-do this”.
Back to the drawing board.
I wrote the next essay, instead, from my heart. Nearly effortlessly, I wrote a descriptive essay about my dad. With my words, I painted a clear picture of my father. As I submitted my assignment, I held my breath, hoping that, this time, I’d gotten a little closer to what Dr. Schuster wanted.
Apparently I had. I got an A.
This was the first in a long line of A’s I would receive for that class. And with each assignment, I not only received the requisite grade, but also a commentary from him…explaining to me exactly what he loved about my writing.
I treasured those papers I’d written for him almost as much as I treasured his comments. They encouraged me, they challenged me but most of all they validated me.
Several years later, I ran into him. I was in my early 20’s, and just trying to figure out my life’s direction. As I told him my plans, he shook his head with disdain.
“I don’t care what you think you are. You are a writer.”
In my whole academic career, I had never been given a gift as great as what he gave me in that moment. Here was someone I respected deeply, and he believed in me!
I would love to conclude this note by telling you that I took his advice and became a successful author, or journalist…but, well…I didn’t. But I never forgot his words. And in a very big way, he encouraged me to trust my own artistic vision, to express myself and to create from the heart.
I am lucky, that in my life, I had one teacher who really made a difference. And for me, that teacher was Ed Schuster. I am just sorry that I never got the chance to tell him that myself.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time, may his memory be a blessing.
