Sixth-grader Gibson Hicks was named the winner of a local essay contest sponsored by Barnes & Noble in Rome. His essay, "My Favorite Teacher," written about the late Anne Somerville, a Darlington legend, has moved on to the regional level of the competition. Hicks will read his essay at the store and will be honored with a reception.
Read the full text of his essay below:
Mrs. Somerville was a very thoughtful, loving, generous, and kind-hearted lady. She was my first-grade teacher at Darlington Lower School. She taught me how to read and I'm so glad about that. Every day, she came in with a giant smile on her face. She would never get mad. She would never even think about hurting a little fly. Another thing she taught me was every time an ambulance passed by or if you could hear its siren, you must always pray for that person. She had rosey checks when she smiled.
She had cancer when I was in her first-grade class and halfway during the school year, she died because of this awful disease. Once we all found out, we started to cry. Even now when we think about her, we become sad. She was a Christian, so I know now she is in Heaven.
She was the nicest teacher a student could ever think of. She would give us candy sometimes if we were good. On Christmas, she got us little ornaments that sing Christmas songs. I have that ornament still and it reminds me of her every day. She is the only teacher to give me a Christmas gift.
She would have times where she would make jokes and laugh, but we still got a lot of work done. I would not have wanted a different teacher. I wish she was still alive so I could thank her for what she did. In memorial, we planted a little pine tree. All of her students bought some flowers and we placed them under the tree. The tree is still the standing at the Lower School. It is healthy and strong, full of life. Some of the flowers are still there, but most of them are gone.
I think that every kid all over the world and all the adults would love to meet her. She is one of the nicest people I have ever met. On her favorite book that she read to us, her thumbprints were visible because she had read it so often. I am so thankful that she helped me learn to read. I will always remember her love of books, reading, and children when I think of her.
