I want to thank Mr. Olivencia. He was the Earth Science teacher at my middle school, Irwin Altman Middle School 172, located in Floral Park, Queens. I had him during my final year in 8th grade from 2006-2007. I have had many special teachers, but the only true one that stands out from the top of my head is him, Mr. Olivencia. He taught me so much in Earth Science and beyond.
He prepared us as if we were going to war. He packed us with tests and labs for the benefit of us to pass the regents. I didn't realize this until afterwards, once I graduated. He prepared us for high school by treating us as if we were already in high school. Thanks to him, I know now how to write my research papers and how to take suffient notes. I still remember those times, when my class was sitting in his classroom. He would be reading from a bunch of papers on his desk or just talking and the whole class would be just scribbling away. Our hands would ache with pain, but this was the journey for success, which we all reached because of him. Thank you, Mr. O!!!!
-Sreela Sivagnanam
M.S.172, Class of '07