Most of my teachers through my years of schooling have touched my life significantly, but there is one teacher that stands apart from the others. She gave me much needed confidence and guidance for my future. Her name is Joyce Vitale. She actually was my younger sister's teacher and a close friend of the family. I watched her successfully teach a kindergarten class to read, write, and mathematical logic. She has a masters in teaching and was offered numerous jobs throughout many states, but she chose to teach a small Christian school for half of the money. (Not to say teachers get paid an exorbitant amount.) Joyce touched my life through giving me guidance with school, sports, and boyfriends. She gave me confidence to try and achieve my goals no matter what. Joyce made sure I was always on top of my school work. She helped me obtain some scholarships for college. She made sure I had a perfect application for the college, that I now attend. Joyce did numerous things to help me academically through school. Most importantly she instilled confidence in me. As a young teenager it is hard for a girl to possess confidence in herself. I feel that if I did not have Joyce as mentor in my life, to teach and guide me through my teen years, I would not have made it out alive.
-- Jessica Magnuson, Florida Atlantic University