The Editor,
I join with others in congratulating Coquitlam’s Tory Nyhaug on his gold medal in BMX at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Eva Collins and I had the pleasure of teaching Tory in our Grade 4 class at Riverview Park elementary in Coquitlam. He was nine years old at the time and was very involved in sports outside of school — BMX and hockey in particular — and at school he excelled in all physical education activities.
Each morning, our class of kids would line up at the outside door in two lines. One line of kids would make a beeline for the classroom as soon as the door was opened. Tory would be in this line.
The other line would be composed of individuals who wanted to share a story or a drawing or a concern and who wished a private audience with the teacher before their school day began.
One day, I was standing at the open door and I was bent forward looking down at a drawing a student wanted to share. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Tory about to pass by me to my left.
Then, WHAM! Tory lowered his shoulder, made contact with me and checked me firmly into the door of the classroom.
When I recovered, I looked up. Tory met my gaze and said in all seriousness and without a hint of a smile: “Remember, Mrs. Phillips, it is important to keep your head up at all times.” Then he proceeded into the classroom.
This was a fine piece of advice and I remember fondly the student who shared it with me.
Patti Phillips, Vancouver
