I taught Marco at least three times (maybe four?) but, sadly, not in grade 12. He was part of the Foundations 12 class that I did not teach last year. One thing I will always remember about Marco is his resiliency. Marco had some struggles in my class, both with the Math (but hey, who DOESN'T struggle with math from time to time?) and also with some health issues.
It was pretty inspiring to watch Marco keep working and keep working. Even when he had to miss a few classes in a row, or wasn't feeling the greatest, Marco never used that as an excuse: he just stayed positive and stayed committed.
In this way, Marco personifies my "Two Step Plan for Success" perfectly:
- WORK HARD - without a doubt, Marco did this. He would often stay late after school, see his tutor, or ask other students for assistance with his Math.
- BE RESPONSIBLE - it was very admirable how Marco never looked for excuses with respects to his Math. He never tried to find a shortcut or a loophole to allow him to do less work than other people. And he probably could have!
One other thing I will always remember about Marco is his incredible supportive and friendly parents. No wonder Marco is such a great guy - he's got two excellent role models at home.
Thanks for all your hard work Marco. I know that your determination and your focus will serve you well in the future. I wish you all the best. Please come visit some time!