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A Fallen Hero

In memory of my typing teacher, James Ehrsman. Hope you had a safe journey HOME...

A Fallen Hero

Recently, I lost another hero. He didn’t wear a blue cape. He didn’t have superpowers and he couldn’t fly unless he was in an airplane. Nonetheless, he was a hero. His name was Mr. Ehresman.
Mr. Ehresman was my typing teacher during my sophomore year of high school. He had a manner that exuded warmth and kindness. He was also fair during a time when many teachers played favorites. As a kid who was often not the favorite in school, I appreciated this value in him to treat all students fairly.
Mr. Ehresman gave one hundred and ten percent to his students and he expected as much back. Unlike many teachers, he was willing to meet you halfway. He understood that some students would be faster than others. “Accuracy before speed,” he would chide us as each student called out his or her typing time.
I was a slow learner, especially when it came to working with my hands. My brain knew what words to type; my fingers just didn’t want to cooperate. By the time Mr. Ehresman got me, my self-esteem was low and my confidence had plummeted since the end of elementary school. Here I was in high school and always the last to get done.
I was getting frustrated and he knew it. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to catch up with the other kids whose fingers moved like lightening, which often made me feel like the tortoise that would always finish last. Mr. Ehresman told me not to worry. “Accuracy before speed,” he would always tell me, his deep voice calming me like a soothing ocean wave.
Mr. Ehresman wore many hats at school. In addition to being a typing and business teacher, he also coached track and field, cross-country and football. Many kids looked up to him. He was steady, he was kind and he was fair. There were no favorites and there were no free rides. You had to give in order to get.
He loved Thanksgiving. He used to gloat to us the day before that “Tomorrow, I can eat all I want.” Then, he would go back to teaching us whatever the lesson of that day was. Meanwhile, visions of turkey and pumpkin pie danced through our heads. We all typed a little faster that day to get done earlier.
I was often picked on and tormented in school. This didn’t happen in Mr. Ehresman’s classroom. He had a zero tolerance policy for these things. So, for one period out of the day, I got a reprieve from this kind of treatment. There was a sense of peace while I sat behind that typewriter. I cherished that hour.
Time passed by and I graduated, on time. After graduation, I attended college where I was able to really hone my typing skills. One day, on a trip back to the high school, for records or something, I ran across Mr. Ehresman. He was coming down the hall and I had to practically run to catch up with him. I tapped him on the shoulder. “Mr. Ehresman?”
He turned around. “Yes?”
I handed him a stack of paper that contained my “Beating the Odds” story. “For you,” I said. “Thanks for being my inspiration to write.” I stood there in the hallway, watching his face.
Memories of those horrible days in high school flooded my mind and I wanted out of there quick. It was overwhelming to me and I was going to choke any minute. But, I stood and watched him look at the paper. “Did you write this,” he finally asked me.
“Yes I did,” I replied slowly. “I wanted you to have it. You taught me how to type.” I smiled lightly.
He smiled back. “Well, thank you,” he replied. “I appreciate this.” His warm blue eyes still held compassion.
We parted ways then. He headed back down the hall and I headed for the exit. Outside, the fresh air filled my lungs and I inhaled like a prisoner that hadn’t seen daylight for a long time. Then, I went to the car where Mom waited and we drove home.
So much time has passed since that day. I graduated college in 2004 with two bachelor’s degrees and have recently completed my first novel. I learned a lot in college and learned even more from people like Mr. Ehresman who stood up for what’s right and not tolerating what’s wrong. I know that I was not the only student who was tormented during those high school years. People like Mr. Ehresman made those painful years bearable. That makes him a hero in my book. Another fallen hero on this journey we call life.
Rest in peace Mr. Ehresman and save a seat in heaven for me, my fallen hero. You have fought the fight and you have finished the race. You may be gone in body but your legacy of kindness lives on in your children and in your students. Fly away now and dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Posted by crydun2004 on 2008-02-15 15:11:38 | Rating: