Panel of Contributors: The agony of knowing a student in harm's way Panel of Contributors: The agony of knowing a student in harm's way (March 09, 2005)

By Jim MacKenzie

From my very earliest teaching experiences, I have been cognizant of the fact that I am presented with a unique opportunity. Each year approximately 300 students pass through my classes. I take pride in providing them with a better understanding of the world, basic skills to cope with a complex society, and communication techniques that make dealing with others a more productive process.

I am not naive enough to believe that a one-semester class will transform their lives, but if I can open their minds to greater possibilities and opportunities, that result would be sufficiently rewarding.

I occasionally have a student who takes both my economics class and my psychology class. Rarely, I have someone who I refer to as a "three-fer." This is an individual who takes my two classes and is also my T.A. or technical assistant.

This year that person is a fledgling jazz musician, Ross Mclntire. Last year my three-fer was one of the most vivacious students I have ever taught, Kimberly Legg. Kimberly lit up an entire classroom. Her omnipresent smile was genuine, her enthusiasm contagious and her outrageous love of life, alarmingly apparent. It was a joy to be around Kimberly and to share her final year of high school.

Kimberly and I also had something else in common --the distinction of being M-A swimmers and water polo players. Thus, when I chose to attend various aquatic events, I was able to meet and develop a relationship with her parents. I was ecstatic when she was admitted to UCLA, but saddened to see her walk across the stage to receive her diploma and leave M-A. As with all grads, I knew I would see much less of Kimberly in the future.

Then, just before winter break this year, Kimberly appeared, primarily to give me a bad time about being in school while she was enjoying an extended vacation. She was especially excited because she was preparing to visit her mother's family in Bangkok over the hiatus.

I wished her well and did not give this encounter much further thought until I heard the incredible news reports from Southeast Asia about the earthquake and resulting tsunami. At first I was in full denial -- it wasn't that bad, she probably wasn't close to it, and even if she was involved, Kimberly was a great swimmer and could cope.

Then I saw the horrific video and still pictures from the area and my heart sank. I could not imagine how terrifying this catastrophe must have been and what effect it had on those unfortunate enough to have experienced it firsthand.

During the last decade or so, I have shared a great many current events with my classes. There have been numerous disasters and tragedies, including 9/11, Iraq, Florida, Turkey, and Sudan. None of these, however, had affected me the way the tsunami story did. This event was personalized and far more difficult to repress.

The news about Kimberly was slow in coining, but very well received. I got a postcard from her that said:

"I'm in Thailand (Bangkok) right now, and I was in Phuket when the quake happened. We felt it; it's actually what woke me up. A couple hours later my family came and got me from the pool and said we had to leave.

"I thought we were just checking out of the hotel, but I went upstairs to our balcony and, oh wow! What a sight! The beach was at least 400 meters away, probably more, but the waves were coming into the entrance of the hotel. An SUV under our balcony floated about 100 feet until it crashed into a wall.

"We evacuated and went to the air traffic control center on high ground for safety and then flew back to Bangkok, where my family lives. We later saw on the news that 100 people died right where we had been staying."

Typical of Kimberly, at the end she adds, "I've been having a great time here along with all the excitement."

I believe I now have a better comprehension of the visceral impact of this type of disaster. It is, however, daunting to imagine how upset I became over the potential loss of one prized student and then to consider what toll it must have taken on the unlucky hundreds of thousands of people who lost loved ones they valued even more.
Jim MacKenzie teaches at Menlo-Atherton High School and is a member of the Almanac's Panel of Contributors.

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