RIP Terence Tsao
Reading the news that someone I know has died always hurts…..reading that MY former student died stings because he was 17 and had his whole world ahead of him.
My eyes glanced over the picture of a caravan which caused the accident. I scanned the caption’s words…..drunk driver… Brooklyn teenager killed. Terence Tsao. I thought…please don’t let it be my Terence Tsao. I googled his name and many papers covered the accident. When I saw the words ‘A 17 year old Stuyvesant student,’ I knew he was ours and tears didn’t stop falling from my eyes. I logged into Fb. Terence’s former and current classmates had begun to make posts expressing their sentiments and memories.
I taught Terence for one year. He was a hard working, bright, gentle young man. He was quiet, kind and part of a wonderful class 2008. I always looked forward to having this class because they were fun, kind and wonderful people. I only knew Terence a short time, but I remember Terence was a good writer. We had a forum on Ning and Terence wrote about about his parents. I believe they were both teachers.
Reading that a drunk driver caused his death made me angry. In 2011, there shouldn’t be anyone driving after they were drinking. I wrote more here, but I deleted it today because Terence was a kind person and he would have forgiven this person. And that’s why he is with God now.
RIP Terence – the world lost a remarkable young man. Many prayers for his Terence’s parents and younger sister.
The picture above is not mine. A former student sent it to me. If you are the photographer, please let me know and I will give photo credits to you for the beautiful photo. I’m so glad to see a photo showing how radiant he was.
12/29/11 Edit: I was getting the lab ready to close up before Christmas vacation. I had put some things in the empty file cabinet so they would be safe. As I went to close the file cabinet drawer, it wouldn’t close. Something was in the back blocking it from closing. I reached my hand in and it was a folded brochure. I closed the file cabinet drawer. As I walked over to my desk, I looked down at the paper. It was a student brochure…..at the bottom was his name…Terence Tsao. The brochure was perfectly made (I’m a computer teacher) and I kept it to show to future students. I’m not sure how it was alone in the empty file cabinet this long. It must have come loose from the folder it was in. How did such a small brochure stop the file cabinet from closing.?And why wasn’t the paper crushed or damaged……I’ll take it as a sign that Terence wanted to let us know he is watching over us. RIP my sweet student.
I looked online and found that Terence wrote the letter below on the Stuy website.
Dear Stuyvesant Alumni Association,
Thank you for purchasing copies of the textbook, “A History ofModern Europe from the Renaissance to the Present” by John Merriman, for Stuyvesant High School students. I am currently using this textbook in myA.P. European History Class. This textbook is a fabulous reference to use, containing a rich, well- organized collection of information all relevant to my class’s subjects. It is also a textbook written at a higher college level in comparison to many of the ordinary history textbooks I’ve used, before taking A.P. European History class, which will help me prepare for higher education. Thank you again for your purchases of the textbook, *A History of Modern Europe from the Renaissance to the Present.*
Sincerely,
Terence Tsao, 2012
Hugs,
marlene
Topics: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
December 20th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
I don’t always stop by your blog but I kept stopping by all weekend because you had written so nicely about Aileen so I was waiting to see what you would write about Terence. Do you really think he is with God.
I wish I had gotten to know him more.My friends are very sad too.
December 20th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
Vicky – I am certain he is with God. Only the Good Die Young…. Billy Joel.
Stop by and say hello when you have time.
December 21st, 2011 at 11:24 pm
RIP Terence you were always a good friend.