I truly believe that certain people come into your life for a reason. They have come to assist you through a difficult time and to provide you with guidance and support. They impact your life. As a student at Long Island City High School I benefited from the influence of a person who changed it all for me, Mr. William Bassell. He was (and still is) the principal at Long Island City High School, my home for four years.
Unlike other principals, Mr. Bassell is also a teacher. To me, he was also a guide. He encouraged me to reach my potential and gave me the strength necessary to survive a most difficult time. No matter how busy he was, he always had time to listen. As an avid supporter of the arts he teaches an opera appreciation class. In a school with over three thousand students, he knew and helped everyone. No problem was too big or too small. He pushed me to become a better person, and to reach for new heights. The person I am today is because of him.
There really are no words to describe the person he truly is, and the way he shaped my life. I want to thank him for being a great teacher, an amazing principal, and an extraordinary person. The school, and my life, would not be the same without him.
-Lavinia Racovita
Long Island City High School, Class of 2004