The teacher who changed my life

Nicholas Gage: a Greek war refugee who immigrated to the US.

In the essay, Nicholas Gage describes why and how he migrated to the US and points a vivid picture of the seventh grade English teacher named Marjorie Hurd who inspired him to pursue a career in the field of journalism.

Nicholas Gage: When he came to the US and entered Chandler Junior High, he met Marjorie Hurd. He learned many important things from Mrajorie Hurd: he learned the value of diligence and hard work, journalism skills, the logic and structure of the English language, Greek literature and the power of the written word.

Marjorie Hurd: was an inspirational teacher who paved the way for his career as a writer. Nicholas finds Miss Hurd an inspirational teacher for numerous reasons. She encourages students, especially those from troubled homes, with tough love. She has students read stories about real people, especially underdogs, doing extraordinary things. She introduces him to Greek literature, which provides a new perspective on, and pride in, his native country. She challenges him to confront the painful memories of his mother’s death and his escape from Communist guerrillas. She publishes his essay in the school newspaper and submits it to a contest, for which he wins a medal. She attends his family celebrations, participates enthusiastically, and provides moral support.

Eleni Gatzoyiannis: was the writer’s mother. She sacrificed her life in order to save her four children. She was imprisoned, tortured and shot by communist guerrillas for sending them to live with their father in the US.

Nicholas Gage was born in a village of Greece in 1939. He and his sisters were sent to the US in 1949 because of severe conflict in Greece. Their departure was very painful. When Communist guerrillas occupied their village, took their home and food, His mother made a secret plan to escape her children to be safe with their father in the US. During the time of departure, she told him to be brave, hung a silver cross around his neck and kissed him promising to come to him later but she was imprisoned, tortured, and shot dead by Communist Guerrillas for sending them to freedom.

When they reached the US, they met their father who took them to their new home, a tenement in Worcester, Mass and joined Greendale Elementary School where they were kept in a class for the mentally retarded. After four years, he met Marjorie Hurd and got the roadmap of his life.

He used to live in a refugee camp and go to Greendale Elementary School, his first school in the US.

Nocholas Gage was very much inspired by Marjorie Hurd, his dear teacher. She inspired and motivated him when he was staying and studying in the US. He learns many important things from her. From her, he learns the value of diligence and hard work as well as journalism skills, Greek literature, the power of written word and the logic and the structure of the English language. She taught him stories about real people, especially underdogs and extraordinary things. She inspires him quite a lot for a long time and enables him to be successful and to win the awards. He was always loved, cared and encouraged by Miss Hurd who was really all-loving, all-caring and inspirational teacher.