A shaper of the world

Written by Nicollette Alvarez
Thursday, 01 October 2009 00:00

At Greenwich High School, we have a course called Shapers of the World, where we study the fusion of literature, art and music and its influence on humanity. For one of our assignments, we all had to choose a local man or woman who we thought was a shaper, someone who has “shaped” society in some way and can be looked up to for inspiration. The vote was unanimous — we all chose the National Teacher of the Year Anthony Mullen. Instead of a politician or an artist, I find it remarkable that the students chose an educator. My shapers teacher was able to bring Mr. Mullen in to speak to us, and his words had a profound impact on me.

He began his speech with an anecdote of his visit to the White House and meeting President Obama. For each of them, it was their first time speaking at the Rose Garden, which Mr. Mullen made a joke about with the President. I liked that he had a sense of humor, and his dialect was both approachable and conversational. I found this to be refreshing and lively, because it was far from being categorized as a dull lecture about education.

Once a policeman who experienced arresting troubled young adults, Mr. Mullen decided to become part of the solution. He found his purpose in life and wanted to teach in order to have a positive effect on teenagers who were at risk. I find it incredible that he essentially spent his previous years dealing with the “dark side” of teenagers. Instead of finding them a lost cause, he has dedicated his life to help them create a vision of who they can become. Any one of us has the ability to be the person standing next to the President. That was one priceless message I got out of Mr. Mullen’s visit.

When Mr. Mullen spoke, it was as if he was addressing each and every one of us personally. As students in high school, especially seniors, we’re right at the beginning of our own journeys. Soon, we’ll be in college where we’ll have the opportunities to make our own decisions and figure out how we might better the lives of others. Once we’re finished with school, it becomes our job to give back and leave our footprints on the world.

In general, teenagers have so much to deal with — the tests, the applications, as well as the emotional toll of everyday high school drama. However, in the midst of these hectic years, we’re getting an invaluable education, both from the classroom and from our individual experiences. This knowledge will enable us to face the world as we grow older. Every generation has its specific challenges, whether it be a war or the environment or the economy. We can’t prepare, because no one ever knows what lies ahead, though we can be ready with positive attitudes and open minds.

Nicollette Alvarez of Old Greenwich is a senior at Greenwich High School.