I was a child when I came to Tabor my freshman year. However throughout my past four years here I have undergone an extraordinary amount of personal growth. Many people at Tabor have impacted me, however no one has had more of an impact on me than my advisor, Mrs. Marceau. She has been someone for me to celebrate with, to look to for advice, and to rely on for the occasional dose of “tough love”. She has been there for all of my big moments and I am so grateful that I have had her by my side as I navigated my way through my years at Tabor.
When I first met Mrs. Marceau I was automatically struck by her “all-business” demeanor. As the new dorm-parent in my sophomore year dormitory, I quickly recognized that it wouldn't be long before her regimented manner would clash with my lighthearted personality. It was only a few days later that Mrs. Marceau came storming down the hallway after a conversation between my roommate and me got particularly rambunctious during study hall. We quieted down for a few minutes, only to resume our lively antics a few moments after she had left. It was when she returned to quiet us down a second (and possibly third) time that I realized that this woman was going to give me a run for my money.
One night, at the end of study hall, Mrs. Marceau walked into my dorm room to see me shedding visible tears while studying for a particularly challenging math test. Mrs. Marceau, a Harvard graduate, sat next to me on the couch and patiently explained to me everything there was to know about trigonometric functions. There came a point when I was positive I would never understand, but she refused to let me give up.
When the time came for me to choose a new advisor at the end of sophomore year, I decided to ask Mrs. Marceau. It became clear to me that the “nagging” that I originally perceived as her weakness became my strength. I recognized that her disciplined and resolute approach was more of an asset to me than it was a nuisance. As I have gotten to know Mrs. Marceau better, I have learned that, underneath her no-nonsense demeanor, she’s funny and takes the time to understand me so that I can better understand myself.
Two years later, I continue to go to Mrs. Marceau whenever I need encouragement or a boost of motivation. As I have admired her determination and success, I have incorporated what I have learned from her into who I am today and who I want to be in the future.
