Shedding Light

Kylie Garcia

During the past week, I did a bit of reflecting. I started thinking about my high school days, specifically my journey with mathematics in high school. I always did a decent job in my math classes prior to high school, and I was in Honors Algebra my freshman year. However, while I was good at math, I never fully enjoyed it or imagined myself excelling in it until I met my junior year math teacher, Mr. Mark Lowther.

I am sure many in this community can attest to how great of a math teacher, and person, Mr. Lowther is — either from being taught by him themselves or by having their kids be taught by him. The good things I personally have to say about him are endless. Mr. Lowther made math fun in a way I had never experienced before. I was actually excited to go to math class my junior year. Did I still stress out about tests and homework? Yes, but that’s just me. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed that Algebra II math class, so much so that I even took a Trigonometry math class with Mr. Lowther during the following summer, which was one of the best decisions I ever made in high school. It was challenging, but so much fun and very beneficial.

While it was Mr. Lowther’s skillful teaching, kind and hilarious personality, and excitement about math that made me enjoy his classes, the most impactful thing that Mr. Lowther did was believe in his students. I never doubted for a second that Mr. Lowther believed in me and believed that I could reach very high mathematical standards. It was that belief in me that gave me confidence to challenge myself and do more in math than I had ever imagined for myself. It was that belief that motivated me to push through tough problems until I found the answer, instead of giving up to ask someone else. That belief truly made a huge difference in my life, both as a student and as a person. Teachers like Mr. Lowther, who build their students up and make them feel supported and believed in, deserve to be thanked and appreciated in every way possible.

Mr. Lowther also celebrates his 20 plus years of sobriety by encouraging students to bring in cake on a day he calls “Hope Day.” Hope Day at GHS has grown tremendously over the years, but it all started with Mr. Lowther, his story, and his desire to be there for his students. The idea behind the cake was to let students know that, “It ain’t always a piece of cake, but there’s always hope.”

As someone who has experienced what it feels like when an adult figure who is supposed to be a mentor does not believe in you, I know the extreme importance of this concept. When you feel like your adult mentors do not even believe in you, how are you supposed to believe in yourself? So much doubt begins to creep in, and you begin to think to yourself, “What is even the point of doing this?” As someone who has also experienced the opposite side of this, I can also speak to what can happen when that belief and support is felt. When you feel like your mentor believes in you, sometimes even more than you believe in yourself, your confidence begins to build, you feel uplifted, and you feel as if you can truly reach and exceed the standards, they have set for you.

Belief is such a powerful thing. The absence of belief and support from teachers, coaches, and mentors can be detrimental to students, athletes, and youth overall. But with that belief and support, students, athletes, and youth can thrive, gain confidence, and surprise themselves with what they are actually capable of. Again, as someone who has experienced both scenarios, I plead with local teachers, coaches, and mentors: please consider the power and importance of how you impact the youth around you. Consider the impact of your words. Consider the impact of your treatment. Consider the impact of your belief and support. Just the tiniest bit of effort on your part to make your students, athletes, and youth feel like you believe in them and support them can go a long way. It can make a world of a difference to that young life – a difference that goes far beyond just the classroom or gym.

Finally, I just want to say thank you to two individuals from my high school days that made that difference in my life. There are so many other amazing mentors that I could thank for so many other things, but I just need to acknowledge this blessing for now. Mr. Lowther and Coach Wheeler, thank you guys for believing in me.

God bless, Cibola County.