My high school AP English was the one that gave me a confidence that I didn’t realize that I was lacking in terms of writing.

She said, “I can’t wait to read your book”. Her name is Pauline Zidlicky, and her words changed my life.

I had always been a good student in school, so grades became quasi-important. It was just the status quo for me to do well. I was an introvert, so I never really spoke up in class. Most teachers would ask me a question, I’d answer, and we’d go on. There were several times when I was asked what I wanted to do when I grew up. The answer was always to be a writer or an English teacher. I said these words, especially the writing part, and people would go.

Miss Zidlicky was different. When she asked what I wanted to be, and I said a writer. Her next question was, “Oh, what do you want to write about?” And she listened. She looked me in the eyes, and she listened. And then after I told her, her next response was “Sandra, that’s wonderful. I can’t wait to read your book”.

That has stayed with me for the last 30-some-odd years of my life. “Sandra, I can’t wait to read your book”. That told me that she had a confidence that I could do it, that she saw something in me that said that I was capable of doing more than just sitting in class and earning good grades. It sticks with me to this moment. Her words.

This is the one reason why I have completed one book and have almost finished the 2^nd. I want to continue to write because Mrs. Sitler can’t wait to read my books.