“We’re always learning” is what Todd Chowan used to tell my French class. And he was right. Nobody knows everything, but Mr. Chowan definitely knew a lot. His knowledge went well beyond just the French language and he taught me countless lessons about life.

“Practice makes perfect” and “do it right the first time or do it over” were some of Mr. Chowan’s most common phrases in the classroom. As time has progressed, I’ve found that his lines have proven true in an infinite number of situations. He has taught me the value of hard work and persistence and how to always put my best foot forward in whatever I do.

I remember one day early last year in AP French, we decided to take a trip to the choir room. Mr. Chowan was playing the piano and I was listening closely to the harmonious sounds being produced. His fingers raced across all the notes, quick as lightning. He was a true musician. When I asked him how he had perfected his playing and singing, he responded with “It all comes with time and a lot of practice. You’ll get there if you really want to.” He always seemed to know the right thing to say to his students.

As last school year went on, Mr. Chowan was diagnosed with cancer. “We’ll make the best of it,” he told all of us. And he did. He often came to class with a smile on his face and a cheerful spirit to accompany it. What a difference it makes to look at the glass half full rather than half empty. He taught us all to look at the bright side of things, which is something that vey few people in today’s world can do.

Looking back, I realize just how fortunate I was to have spent as much time as I did with Mr. Chowan. His innumerable lessons will stay with me as I grow older. He was one of very few teachers that I have encountered with a deep understanding of his students. His uncanny ability to understand them may perhaps be the thing about him that I will miss the most.