Well, I'm not really going to write
a song, but it would be fitting.
My dad called yesterday to tell me that my most beloved teacher of all time was retiring: Jeff Sandquist.
I feel sad.
I joined Mr. Sandquist's choir class in the middle of my eighth grade school year, and made sure I was in his class every year after. I loved him so much that I actually took three of his classes during my senior year.
Mr. Sandquist had some of the most awkward, misfit students join his choirs, and just like me, they never left. I believe they always stayed because Mr. Sandquist gave them value.
During my first semester in choir, our class went to some sort of regional workshop. One Saturday we practiced with a choir of students from all over the area for eight hours or so. At the end of the workshop, our massive choir gave an amazing performance to all of our parents.
One song had a solo. I auditioned from our choir, and Mr. Sandquist chose ME to head to the final round of auditions against all of the other schools' finalists.
Guess who won.
At the end of the concert we sang a song: I hear liberty singing. Her song of freedom is ringing, from shore to shore, stronger than before! I hear liberty singing.
I stood at the center of the top riser while all of the other choir members kneeled down on either side of me and lifted both hands up toward me... an enormous flag spread behind us all and a spotlight lighted me up while I sang my solo into a microphone.
Thank you, Mr. Sandquist, for this wonderful memory of mine. It certainly sounds like a dream.
You never knew what kind of a mood Mr. Sandquist was going to be in. Sometimes he'd come stomping into class aggravated about this or that... didn't he know his students just thought this was hilarious?? Well, it never stopped me from smiling. My grin, positioned smack dab in the middle of his face, probably only made his aggravation worse.
Thank you, Mr. Sandquist for the many trips you took your choirs on, and for encouraging us to compete in state competitions. To this day, I still regret that I did not take your advice and sing Ava Maria at my last competition. Thank you for making song fun and for beautifully directing your squirrelly students. Thank you for taking a stand and teaching your students songs about God.
You were certainly a teacher and a man who went above and beyond the call of duty for his students. Thank you for your time and effort in each of the lives of all of your students.
Your potential, future students will never know what they have missed, and your past students, I'm sure, are nothing but grateful to have had you.
ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT!!
My dad called yesterday to tell me that my most beloved teacher of all time was retiring: Jeff Sandquist.
I feel sad.
I joined Mr. Sandquist's choir class in the middle of my eighth grade school year, and made sure I was in his class every year after. I loved him so much that I actually took three of his classes during my senior year.
Mr. Sandquist had some of the most awkward, misfit students join his choirs, and just like me, they never left. I believe they always stayed because Mr. Sandquist gave them value.
During my first semester in choir, our class went to some sort of regional workshop. One Saturday we practiced with a choir of students from all over the area for eight hours or so. At the end of the workshop, our massive choir gave an amazing performance to all of our parents.
One song had a solo. I auditioned from our choir, and Mr. Sandquist chose ME to head to the final round of auditions against all of the other schools' finalists.
Guess who won.
At the end of the concert we sang a song: I hear liberty singing. Her song of freedom is ringing, from shore to shore, stronger than before! I hear liberty singing.
I stood at the center of the top riser while all of the other choir members kneeled down on either side of me and lifted both hands up toward me... an enormous flag spread behind us all and a spotlight lighted me up while I sang my solo into a microphone.
Thank you, Mr. Sandquist, for this wonderful memory of mine. It certainly sounds like a dream.
You never knew what kind of a mood Mr. Sandquist was going to be in. Sometimes he'd come stomping into class aggravated about this or that... didn't he know his students just thought this was hilarious?? Well, it never stopped me from smiling. My grin, positioned smack dab in the middle of his face, probably only made his aggravation worse.
Thank you, Mr. Sandquist for the many trips you took your choirs on, and for encouraging us to compete in state competitions. To this day, I still regret that I did not take your advice and sing Ava Maria at my last competition. Thank you for making song fun and for beautifully directing your squirrelly students. Thank you for taking a stand and teaching your students songs about God.
You were certainly a teacher and a man who went above and beyond the call of duty for his students. Thank you for your time and effort in each of the lives of all of your students.
Your potential, future students will never know what they have missed, and your past students, I'm sure, are nothing but grateful to have had you.
ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT!!
He's retiring? Well that's sad to hear. I've had one other choir director who was outstanding, but nothing ever matched Mr. Sandquist's ability to work people to greatness.
ReplyDeleteI remember a funny experience with him my senior year when I made it into state choir. I was living alone at the time with no car, and Mr. Sandquist had to be at the rehearsals anyway, so he would drive me up to rehearsals. One time we showed up a bit early and just sat in his car listening to reggae for about 20 minutes. It was just a random, hilarious experience. One of a great many with him.
Of course it was great to have you in choir, too, especially with the duet in our final variety show. Good times!