Respecting Your Rivals

There's been someone on my mind lately. Her name is Mary Ann Allegretto. She was one of my favorite teachers, even though she taught me in one of my least favorite subjects(English). I had her my freshman year at La Salle. I came into English I, not knowing what to expect. I had been receiving extra help or taking special classes for reading and writing since I was in 3rd grade. I didn't know how it was going to be, basically being thrown to the wolves and having to be in a regular English class in high school, and at a college preparatory school nonetheless.

Mrs. Allegretto made me feel comfortable. I think she knew I had struggles in English, but she didn't let me use that as an excuse. She just knew that I would need a little extra time to grow and adjust to high school English. Did I become an amazing writer after her class? No. Did I even love English after her class? To be honest, no. But what she did was plant the seed of change and gave me the ability and opportunity to be at least an average high school English student. Which I couldn't envision a year earlier going into La Salle.

More than just English though, Mrs. Allegretto and I had a great student/teacher relationship outside of our class(something she had with a lot of her students). Our relationship was focused on the beavers and ducks rivalry. At this point in my life, I was just starting to become a huge beaver fan and debates with duck fans was one of my biggest passions. When you're passionate about something and debating with someone else that is also passionate, things can get personal. Especially for teenage boys. Mrs. Allegretto and I had a great rivalry relationship though. She taught me that it is okay to love and respect your rivals. Something that I still have to remind myself of today, and every time I do, I think of her.

It will be 10 years this summer since she left us on earth. Her funeral was the first funeral I ever attended. Seeing the large amount of current and past students that were there(standing room only at the back of a very large church), you knew how much she meant to each and everyone of her students.

As I have now coached for 4 years, every time a student I coach heads off to Eugene, I think of Mrs. Allegretto. I still love those kids and I try to be respectful, yet I still have to tease them a little bit for wearing that yellow and green. The same friendly banter that Mrs. Allegretto and I had.

Thank you Mrs. Allegretto! I know you are up in heaven watching over all of us!