I graduated from Thomas Edison High School in 1997 and at the time I had no idea what my life would have in store for me. I was studying to be an auto mechanic but my heart wasn't in it. I had excellent teachers, especially in the English Department. I was shy, insecure, and had no friends in high school. The only "friends" I truly had were my English teachers. They accepted me with open arms, but one that really adopted me like her own was Marlene Pike.
Mrs. Pike was a true inspiration in my life. It was her dedicated teaching and ability to push her students past their limits that inspired me to become a teacher today. I will never forget how exciting going to her class was; I can truly say that her class was the only one that I couldn't wait to go to and hated to leave. She made learning fun with her creative lessons and inspiring, yet risky, pedagogy. I guess that's what I loved about her, she wasn't afraid to take risks while ensuring our learning possibilities. When it was time for me to graduate, the first thing she asked me was "so Charles, what college are you attending?" I was ashamed to say none, since I hadn't applied. When she heard me tell her that I wasn't going to college, she immediately took me down to the college office, got an application for me, and made me sit with her to complete it. She didn't care what I was going to study, the only thing she wanted to know was that I was going to apply and make it into a college.
After four years of studying at Queens College and an additional two years for my Masters, I never forgot what she did for me. Recently we had a chance to teach in the same school, something my students were shocked at. They couldn't believe that the student was the teacher! I've learned a lot from her and she will always be my inspiration. It is true dedicated educators like her that the City needs to teach the children of our future. If anyone should be displayed and honored for their dedication, Marlene Pike is definitely one.
-Charles Di Benedetto
Thomas Edison High School, Class of 1997