Karen Cook Velasti

Teresa Hammond because she helped me to expand my horizons and because, when she asked us to bring in a favorite poem, she let me use the lyrics of a Laura Nyro song. Ms Richards - I was already a reader when I took her class but she helped me to be a better reader. Mr Bennett (why was he nicknamed Lefty Bennett?) because he asked us good questions which made us think. The graduate student who took over our Sociology class and helped me to see the workings of a community and how all of the components are interwoven.

Our poor Russian teacher was such a victim of the boys in the class (no names). One time she was reading us a story and one-by-one the boys slipped into the walk-in supply closet. It took her a long time to realize that there were less and less students in the class. She had no class management skills whatsoever.

Not let my reserved nature and shyness get in the way of getting to know more people.

My job has become too much of a priority, but I manage to usually strike a balance with the more important things in life like family and friends.

My sweet daughters, all 3 of my sisters, each one of my wonderful friends, any artist or writer and many people I haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet.

I can do more than I thought I could and am stronger than I thought I was.

To keep on having new experiences and to remember to live each day.