On the first day of tenth grade, my American Lit teacher's words floated heavily across the room:…read more"You're going to hate being in my class but when it's over you're going to remember it and love every minute of it".
Ms. Mary Anthony looks nothing like my tough guy high school english teacher. She didn't start class that way, either. In fact, I have no idea how she started class, because I was 15 minutes late the first time. But as soon as I walked into class and saw that look in her eye, I got a feeling I was back in that high school english class. At 90 years old, her spirit was still just as alive as her will to pass on what she knew. And pass on she did.
I get nervous in front of people, I lose that spirit and freedom that I often find alone in my ballet shoes on the rooftop at home. And this lady just wouldn't stop pointing it out.
"Natalia, that's wrong"
"Natalia, I need you to see what I'm doing, not just look at it"
"Natalia, get up and slap your left leg--that way you'll remember to use the right one next time I tell you to"
"Natalia, don't think--just FEEEEL"
and finally,
"Natalia, have you had any dance training before?" *holds breath* "Well, I'm glad you came back to us."
And then came the after class speech. She told me she knows that everyone is nervous on their first time, and that she wanted me to know that she barks but never bites, that living out there in the world is tough today, that they teach you in school to suppress the innate creativity of your soul, that she sees the youth today and it scares her, because they are passive and indifferent, but that I have a sparkle in my eye and she knows that I will continue with dance, as that is our one-woman fight against the world.
As I left the place, I felt like I was in tough luck with this lady, just as I had been with that lit teacher, who used to toss my papers aside and call them "sub-par" and bring tears to my eyes. And now, writing is my life. Funny as it might sound, my love for writing really began after taking that class.
Mary Anthony's class is definitely scary as well--and yet after the first lesson, I felt like I had come across a treasure. There is really something about teacher who know how to do their job. They're tough, they work you hard, and you do hate them at the moment but in the end you have this deep respect for them. Most teachers are nice, they make you feel good, and all you remember at the end is "nice try"--which leaves you wondering whether you really are any better than when you started.
But with Mary Anthony, you know you are going to shape up and do it fast because she doesn't let anything go. And you can't get prissy, or angry, or take anything personally, because she doesn't care about the money; she cares about dance--that's pretty obvious.
So, in the end, there's really just two questions when considering returning for more classes:
Would I like to develop a passion for dance as I have for words? Yes.
Am I willing to take the tough road of learning once again?
That, I haven't decided yet.