Arquilla B. Shepherd of Corinth spent her career as an English teacher in Homer, La.
Recently, she shared a letter that she received from a former student, Frederick C. Young, who is now the postmaster in Homer, thanking her for her inspiration as a teacher.
In his letter, he thanked her for continuing to patronize the post office in Homer even after she moved to Texas.
He also took the chance to thank her for inspiring him.
"With this letter, I would like to acknowledge my gratitude to you as a teacher and a guide," he wrote. "It is because of trailblazers like you that my journey has been less entangled. I continue to tell others about your vision, insight and drive."
He wrote about his induction into the Homer Lions Club and thanked Shepherd, who facilitated him in obtaining his first pair of eyeglasses. He was a good student, but he was too embarrassed to admit he couldn't see the blackboard, he wrote.
"You counseled with me and explained that my being ashamed to wear glasses wasn't hurting anyone but me," he wrote. "You told me that I was too bright not to think for myself and that I should not let others dictate to me who I was and who I was going to be."
He said she helped in many other ways.
"Just let me say that when parents thank me for helping their child to fine-tune their speech, I always say that I learned from the best, Ms. Arquilla B. Shepherd."
