My journey through elementary school was one that was incredibly unforgettable, especially thanks to my 2nd grade teacher at P.S.19Q:
Ms. Malebranche.
Ms. Malebranche was full of passion and energy every day. Although her classroom was far too crowded and the students were never really enthused, she was hopeful. She taught us to love learning. Stuck with a class that was not all at the same level, she tried to push us to the limits she deemed we could be pushed. I arrived to her class with the notion that I was at a certain remedial level and that it could never change. I was wrong. She showed me my strengths, built my self-esteem and taught me how to shine. If it weren't for her, I wouldn’t have the courage and strength in the classroom that I have today.
Although I am not pursuing a career in teaching, a lot of my outside work has to do with tutoring children of the inner-city and simply being inside school-age classrooms. I thank her for my ability to work so well with struggling children and for teaching me that the only limits that exist are the ones we set for ourselves .
-Geraldine Diaz
P.S.19Q, Class of 1999