Sister Mary Williams SCC

Thank you for coming to visit my blog.

I'd like to introduce you to some of the most wonderful people God ever created.

I'll share a short story with you about each person that best illustrates who they are and why they made such a lasting impact on my life.

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Sister Mary Williams, SCC

My 8th. Grade teacher at St. Paul's Grade School, Reading, PA was a teacher who loved me, encouraged me, and above all else prayed for me.

It was the first time I'd ever met someone who expected the best from me and yet allowed me to discover what my very best could become without ever basing her acceptance of me on my performance.

Her kind, quiet, and Godly way with me was so liberating that it took me much further than I'd ever dreamed possible.

In the fall of 1960,the Diocese of Allentown announced they were holding a Forensics Competition among all 150 schools within the diocese. Sister Williams said she'd like to appoint me as our schools ambassador to the Public Speaking event of the year. My assignment would be to memorize and deliver, Patrick Henry's speech, Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death, word for word before all 150 schools. Not having any idea what it would take to accomplish the task -- they signed me up as St. Paul's  ambassador.

Sister Mary Williams worked with me throughout the school year to iron out all the kinks in my speech. The big Saturday morning finally arrived in the spring of 1961 and the high school auditorium was packed full of students. I'm thinking there's no way; these kids will bury me and believe me they tried. Parents came dressed to the 9's, some of the young guys were dressed in 3 piece suits, and the young ladies were wearing their best school uniforms.

I'm wearing a thread bare jacket, a simple tie and shiny pants my Mother ironed over and over again. My parents didn't come to the event, in fact no one from my family showed up. It was me, Sister Mary Williams and her prayers.

Everyone had to speak 3 times. We were split up into classrooms with lots of teachers etc. as judges. The 5  finalists were announced and we gave our speech before a packed high school auditorium.

When the winners were announced, our school's presentation won the Grand Champion First Place trophy among all 150 schools.

I'd never dreamed of winning anything yet alone taking home Grand Champion of the entire event and First Place for our school.  

Thank you, Sister Mary Williams.

The trophy for World's most Wonderful Teacher will always belong to Sister Mary Williams.