Until I took Dr. Offutt's class, I was an underachieving student, but I left that class determined never to underachieve again. He not only taught me to think, he convinced me, as much by example as words, that it was my moral obligation to do so and to serve others.
Neither of us could know how our relationship would evolve over the years. When I first came back to DeMatha to teach English, I worked for Dr. Offutt, the department chair. My discussions with him as he mentored me were like graduate seminars in adolescent development, classroom management and school leadership.
After several years, I was named department chair, and our relationship shifted again. I thought that it might be awkward chairing the department, since all of my former English teachers were still there, but Dr. Offutt supported me throughout. He knew when to give me advice about curriculum, texts and personnel, and when to let me chart my own course.
In 1997, I needed his advice about leaving DeMatha to become principal at another school. If he had asked me to stay at DeMatha, I might have. Instead, he encouraged me to seize the new opportunity.
Five years ago, I became the principal of DeMatha. Once again, Dr. Offutt was there for me, letting me know that I could count on him as I tried to fill such big shoes. I've learned from him that great teachers have an inexhaustible wealth of lessons to teach. Even if his students don't know it yet, I know how fortunate they are; I'm still one of them.
在上奥法得教授的班级以前，我一直是个学习成绩不怎么样的学生，但是，当我离开那个班级时，我决定再也不做一个差生了。他不仅教会我们思考，他通过事例和言语使我坚信，我有责任这样做并为他人服务。
我们两人谁也记不起这些年来我们之间的友谊的发展过程了。当我第一次回到DeMatha高中教英语时，我是跟着奥法得教授工作的，当时他是系主任。在和他的讨论时，在青少年毕业研讨会上，在讨论教室管理和学校领导能力等问题时，他是我良师益友。
几年以后，我被提名为系主任，我们的友谊进行了一次换位。因为我以前的英语老师还都在那里，我想这个领导可能会很难当。但是，奥法得教授从始至终一直支持我。他总是在适当的时候给我关于课程、课文和人员问题的建议，并总是适时让我自己制定自己的规划。
1997年，关于是否离开DeMatha高中去任另一所学校的校长的事我需要他的建议。如果他要我留在DeMatha高中，我就不走了。然而，他却鼓励我抓住这个新的机会。
5 年前，我再次回到DeMatha高中并担任校长。这一次，奥法得教授还在这里等我，他让我知道我可以信赖他，我可以做得和以前的校长一样出色。他让我感到，一个好的老师有无穷无尽的知识财富让我们去学习。尽管他的学生们可能还没有意识到这点，我知道他们是非常幸运的；我现在仍然是受益者之一。