By Zac Remian
Student, Assabet Valley Technical Center

I am not a writer at all; in fact I dislike it a lot.  But when it comes down to it and I have something to say, I can write.  This is why I am writing now.

I am a senior at Assabet Valley Tech in Marlboro MA.  Many of you have read articles from one of my teachers, Neil Mansfield.  He is one of the best teachers I have ever had.  He has helped me through some really bad times.  He taught me what he could pound through my head in a short 4 years at AV.  This man puts so much time into the kids at school it’s actually quite amazing.

There was this one night right before a deadline for the “Art at Assabet” art show.   He stayed with me until about 8 at night to help me finish a project that I wanted to give up on.  He pushed me through it and I am very glad that he did.  The piece that I made was a memorial for all the fallen fire fighters in the world and especially for the 343 fire fighters who lost their lives on 9-11.  This memorial is one of the best things that I have ever made.  And it is all because of him that it got finished.

He has inspired me and he has given me hope.  Not many people would do what he has done for his students. And unless you know him personally, you will not understand.  At Assabet we have one of the most amazing metal fabrication shops and some of the best teachers around.  Because of Mr. Mansfield the students in the shop learn more than welding and sheet metal work.  We learn how to shape beat, heat and smith metal into art.

When I first came to Assabet, I wanted to be a chef and I wanted to cook.  Or I wanted to be a plumber and make lots of money.  Then, for one week, I went through metal fabrication.  And that all changed because of Mr. Mansfield.  I don’t know what else to say about this man; he is amazing and he does so much for his students.  And I should know, I am one of them.  I just want to thank a man who has affected my life so much and has turned my life around quite a bit.

Many years from now I will remember him and will honor this man.  And not to leave out my other teachers who helped me, I have to thank Mr. C and Mr. Aziz my other two shop teachers that taught me just as much as Mr. Mansfield.  Thanks to those 3 men I am who I am now and will be a better person in life.