Mr. Ray

It was the first day of Arrowhead Cross Country and I was a nervous wreck. Looking around, I noticed the mass of teammates. I recognized only three people. A roar came from the crowd, “Razor!” That's when I saw the legend himself. Upward pointing hair, with frosted tips and a cheek to cheek smile, he walked around giving everyone knucks. He was my fifth grade math teacher, Mr. Ray. I only later found out his nickname was Razor. He noticed me watching him and immediately came over to congratulate me on coming out for the team. He is a coach of the Arrowhead Cross Country team, the team he talked about when teaching class at North Lake Middle School. 

I felt like I belonged in the group. Everyday he would give me a cheerful hello when he arrived at practice. I was amazed by the amount of respect he had on the team. There was not a single person who did not look up to him, even though he was always jestering and roasting people. It was totally opposite of his professional teaching style I previously knew. 

There was a time when he engaged in a rap battle with a senior on the team who was in the process of marketing his mixtape (it was absolutely fire). When I was a freshman, I was new to the sport and the social group within it. I often time struggled with breathing, but Razor was always there to support me. Our team had meetings after practice to talk about traits the coaches try to build. Razor motivated me to be better in sports and in life. He talked about how perseverance in running relates to challenges in life, whether it is homework or pursuing a dream job. I found his speeches relatable and inspiring. Even with the time commitment, I was able to manage staying with Cross Country for four years.

When I first met Razor in fifth grade, he became a role model for me. I remember enjoying his class which inspired me to take harder more advanced math classes in high school. My favorite activity was playing giant Jenga. He would bring in a Jenga set and we would have class parties. This made learning more interesting and helped the class focus to earn more Jenga parties. He would make me pull warning cards when I misbehaved which helped build me into the person I am today, and I appreciate him immensely for it. 

He goes beyond his job to make life enjoyable and has been a close friend. I ended my senior year Cross Country banquet by giving him a hug and thanking him for everything. I owe Mr. Ray a large thank you for how he has impacted my childhood. His support has been unending for the seven years that I have known him. Thank you Razor for guiding me to become who I am now.