Jackie Pegram deserves honors

Meet Jackie Pegram.

This beautiful human taught me speech and drama in 7th grade. That point in life when hormones, rage, confusion, adolescence, distraction, and all of the ingredients of that emotional cocktail were in full swing.

I can’t say that I remember any negatives from being in her class. Her two kids were my classmates, and a solid part of the memories growing up.

Ms. Pegram, without knowing it, accommodated my disabilities. She taught me delivery of speech, embracing the emotion of the speech, inflection, pause, emphasis, and silence.

I remember that she prepped me to go to state competition for delivering a dramatic story, and I remember embracing it so deeply that I cried during the delivery. She really got me engaged in the process.

And looking back, all of these years later, and knowing that it was her that taught me to be strong in public speaking, I have to say a deep, hearty THANK YOU!

I’m a high school dropout. Structured education was so boring and ineffective. But in the case of Ms. Pegram, she got through to me, and she’s an immense part of my confidence in speaking, and knowing who I am. She’s touched a lot of lives, by being so catalytic in my life.

You never know whose life you’re totally changing. Make every move count.

P.D., JAY V. SHORE