I was very excited to get picked. That was a very proud moment for me. But I didn't realize
how I was chosen, that's when it really started to hit me pretty heavy. When I found out that
my students written an essay explaining how I embodied the Olympic spirit and how I had
been an inspiration to them. That will make you a little teary. That really is an emotional
high. I have been a professor at Eastfield college for 25 years and to find out that
you are really making a difference in a young person's life and that this kind of validates
all of those things that I have always hoped to do every day. So the fact that I got to
carry this torch is more overwhelming. More special. Than I could have ever imagined it
to be. It is a powerful powerful moment as others have described to me. It is an out
of body experience. Until I saw some video of it I did not know all that took place.
To hold, to posses something so special as the sacred flame. To know that you are responsible
representing the students who I adore. I at one point screamed out to everyone in the
crowd I LOVE YOU ALL. To take that torch and finally run down the streets, the police,
the sirens, support vehicles, the helicopters. The whole event was truly electric. It is
difficult to describe. I will always remember that moment. Anyone who was a part of it is
going to remember it also. It is so much fun to talk to people that were actually there
and to see it in their eyes when I completed the passing and to see tears and emotion it
is not about me it is about the moment of passing that flame across the United States.
I am so proud to represent my country and community and Eastfield College. It is one
of those things that will live with you forever. To me the proudest moment to be able to still
posses the torch to know that the carbon that is on top of this came from the sun lighting it on Mount
Olympus and that flame has been carried across the United States. To know that I still posses
this and all of the significance that it means to light the fire within all of us. I hope
that everybody gets a chance to get their hands on this and to experience what I experienced.
There is still a lot of magic in this torch. I am proud that I could pass it around and
share it with my fellow colleagues in the district and students that we can continue to be a
school that will make a spark in a young person's life. That we can make a difference. The spirit,
mind and body.That Greek philosophy is something that I have always taught and believed in
and my job is to motivate and encourage. We have intelligent students. Students with good
bodies. And now we have to motivate the spark of learning and motivation to become more
productive in their lives and to enjoy themselves. I am very proud. Proud is an over used word
but it is certainly an humbling experience and one that I am truly honored that I carried
the flame as it passes through our community and across the United States. Very emotional
time. Very.