Susan Sassi
Mrs. Jarvis was more than a drama teacher — she was a lifeline at a time when I truly needed one.
I still remember a moment from middle school when a teacher from my elementary school said I shouldn’t be allowed in the musical because I was a “horrible, misbehaving student.” Mrs. Jarvis just smiled and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about — she’s a straight-A student.” She saw me for who I really was when others didn’t.
I struggled with learning differences in elementary school and often felt out of place as the only Jewish girl in my class. I came into her class carrying those difficult experiences, feeling lost and unsure of myself. She cast me as Paddington Bear and gave me a place where I felt safe, creative, and valued. Theatre became a kind of therapy for me — it gave me purpose and something to hold onto when life felt hard.
She was tough, and I wasn’t always easy. I talked back sometimes, and we didn’t always see eye to eye. But even in those moments, she challenged me and believed in me in ways that mattered. I truly believe her belief in me helped shape the person I became.
I will always be grateful that she was my teacher.
