Captivated by Teachers & Mentors

“If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society’s heroes.” – Guy Kawasaki

It’s back-to-school time and that’s got us nostalgic about packed lunches, school supplies, and of course, our teachers. We asked our team members to tell us about a teacher or mentor who had a positive impact on their educational or writing journeys. Here’s what they had to say:

PWN outreach instructor Meredith Z. Avakian said:

“When I was an undergraduate student at Temple University, one of my college internships was with the U.S. Department of Labor, in its Office of Public Affairs. During my interview for the position, I quickly learned the hiring supervisor and I both share a deep passion for the written word, especially writing poetry. That was the start of my internship, which quickly grew into a mentor/mentee relationship with Leni Uddyback-Fortson. After college, Leni was right by my side to mentor me as I navigated my way through my corporate communications career, published my first two books of poetry and became an adjunct professor, following in her own footsteps. Beyond our professional relationship, Leni has been a true friend. She even supported me through my marriage, divorce and entrance to single motherhood. Nearly 20 years after we first met, Leni is like family to me and I am forever grateful for all of the roles she has played in my life.”

Mimi Cross, our in-house songwriting guru who is teaching Songwriting Studio for teens and Songwriting for adults this fall, said: 

“When I was working on my graduate degree at NYU, I needed credits in aesthetic education. But the only class that fit my schedule was Theory and Criticism of Art, a doctoral-level class filled with, well, doctoral students. The class was being led by art critic Rose Slivka, who, thankfully, allowed me in. For our assignments, she sent us all to dozens of museums and art galleries. We were to then write up reviews and personal essays based on specific shows, specific artists, specific pieces. Ms. Slivka had high expectations of our writing, but perhaps more importantly she expected us to have our own ideas, and she was ready to respect those ideas. To accept them. My papers were … poetic. I was in a stream-of-consciousness phase. I remember writing a lot about color.

Because of Rose Slivka, my time at NYU remains one of the most inspirational periods of my writing life. Really, I was just becoming a writer, finally. And Rose told me, in one of our final meetings, ‘You’re a brilliant writer.’ She followed this with, ‘Don’t let it go to your head.'”

Jennifer Gaites, our Novel Incubator Peer Artist Leader and Writers Institute instructor, said:  

“One teacher who inspired me was my high school art teacher, Mrs. Fehrs. She often gave me a place to hang out after school. When many of my peers headed to practice, I headed to the art room where she let me use the pottery wheels or continue whatever project I’d started in class. One year, she took me to a student artist’s retreat at Peter’s Valley, which was the first time I’d experienced the importance of belonging to a community of artists. My journey into writing didn’t happen until many years later, but I think that the value she placed on creative work has stayed with me!”

PWN’s program coordinator and writing instructor Lisa Hartsgrove said: 

“I suffer from a pretty severe case of Imposter Syndrome. Still, when I met Jennifer Chauhan in my frazzled state for our first interview, she hired me on the spot. When I said I’d only taught before in one-on-one situations and only ran programs through the Monmouth County Parks System, Jen pshawed—”I can already tell you’re a great teacher,” she said. She never shared the doubt in me that I held in myself. And biggest of all, when I struggled for 8+ years writing my book in narrative form, it was Jen who embraced switching to verse with me. ‘So what if it isn’t the norm—write in the voice that’s right for you.’ I always say my biggest supporter is my mom, and that’s still true in so many ways. But Jennifer Chauhan is right beside her now. My mom made me the strong, independent woman I am today. But Jennifer made me the writer, teacher, and mentor.”

Writers Institute instructor and book inc writer Lou Storey said:

“So far back her name is gone—an elder neighbor in inner-city Newark who delighted in my drawings, stories, and crafts made just for her. Now another move to another foster home. Instead of a ‘goodbye,’ she held up both my hands, ‘These are your two best friends. With them you will never be alone. Together you create the perfect world.’ That was the last I saw of her, but she has been a part of me ever since.”