To Will Handrich.

“Chertalay, you’re staring blankly and not listening to me,”

Yes I did and you knew,

“Teaching an 8 a.m. class is like doing a standup comedy in front of a graveyard,”

I remember this vividly

And remember

After having heard the sentence

My friend and I glanced at each other and laughing hysterically

The English Two class was boring

In its essence,

But it was better with you.

And you also knew that I purposefully

Swapped my ACAD class so that I got to study with you

Because I walked up to tell you

I did not wish for a humdrum class.

And I remember, up till this day

From the girl who used to be a bit nervous

Talking in front of people

What you told everyone in the class,

“There are two ways to manage your adrenaline:

To let the nervousness gets in your way or

Learn to utilize it for your own sake,”

This I remember, and utilize up until this day.

The Research Writing was a headache

I disagreed with so much of what you said

But I also learned

That I need to get out of my academic bubble

And that convincing people is part of the job.

Part of me, my knowledge, who I am,

There will always be a piece of your existence.

I don’t know if you believed in heaven but

I am sure your particles will be floating

Among the stars and the sky

and persist

So long as the universe exists.

Please rest, in whichever place of your desire.

You Will be remembered. I will, Will.

23/02/19 in remembrance of my ever-favorite English teacher, Will Handrich.