Elementary School Teacher Helped Student Learn to #StandTall

Patch and When the Game Stands Tall are asking about the coaches, teachers or mentors who inspired you.

Talia Smaller’s mentor is a teacher who taught her to reach for the stars!

Mentor Name: Melissa LaHaye

Known Mentor for: 5 years

School: John E. McCarthy Elemarntry School

Town: Peabody

State: Massachusetts
What mentor taught about success: My mentor Melissa Lahaye taught me how to be successful by influencing me. She taught me to Reach for the Stars. That means reach for your goals in life and pursue your dreams. She also taught me to DYB. DYB means Do Your Best. That means to try your hardest and put in all your effort. Sometimes you need to take the extra mile. That is what she tells us. You can try your hardest and you can do anything. Melissa LaHaye has had a huge impact on how I think I can be successful in life.

What mentor taught about dealing with failure: Melissa LaHaye also taught us about failure. She told us that everyone fails. Everyone trips and falls. But that you need to get back up, don’t stay down. Just keep trying and things will get better. And that everything happens for a reason. That failure will lead to something. A positive effect will come out of the negative effect. And not to worry because it only gets better. I always think of her when I am faces with rough times because I know her encouraging words will help me through it.

Best advice from mentor: The best piece of advice Melissa LaHaye gave me was in a letter.She gave me this letter at the end of the school year with words to encourage me to keep going and that everything is okay. When I am down in the dumps I read this letter out loud, to myself to cheer me up: My dear playwright and Miss Assertion, it’s very hard to say goodbye to that bright smile of yours. You have grown so much this year. I’ve watched you really step up as a student and reach for the stars! I am so proud of all you have accomplished and I hope you are too. Always aim high because you can do great things (and always check your work! Grrrrr) I will miss you very much! Remember to always DYB and believe in yourself. ( And don’t forget me in your Oscar speech) Love always, Mrs. Lahaye This letter means a lot to me and is all the advice I feel I will possibly need to succeed in this world. This is truly the best advice I have ever had. All in the purely written words on Melissa LaHaye.