This blog was originally published on ksbj.org.

When you’re a teenager, it’s hard to see the bigger picture.

High school often feels like a blur of expectations, rules, and impossible assignments. It’s only years later that you realize how profoundly a teacher can shape your life. Everyone has that one teacher they will never forget—and mine is my high school television production teacher, Mr. Jerry Querciagrossa.

“Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. | Proverbs 9:9

A Class That Almost Didn’t Happen

During my junior and senior years, I was able to attend a vocational program for the first 3 periods of the day. It was a co-op with several high schools in the district; and it was designed to steer you in the direction of an occupation. I knew I wanted to go into some type of media, though I wasn’t sure if that meant radio, television, or even film. All I knew was—I needed to be in that class.

My mom, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure.

She worried it would be a “blow-off” class. So, she did what any protective parent might do: she met with the teacher. Mr. Q reassured her that this was no easy “A.” His class would challenge me and help me figure out whether this was truly my calling.

I’ll never forget our very first day. Mr. Q gave us a pop quiz: spell his last name correctly. It was a pass/fail test—but we could retake it the next day. Only then were we allowed to call him “Mr. Q”. You had better believe I memorized it. To this day—38 years later—I can still spell “Q-u-e-r-c-i-a-g-r-o-s-s-a” without hesitation.

More Than Just a Class

That class became a turning point. We weren’t just reading from a textbook. We were hands-on: creating commercials, producing newscasts, and even making music videos (hello, MTV days! To this day I cannot listen to “Don’t Shed A Tear” by Paul Carrack without thinking of that crazy video I produced!)

But what set Mr. Q apart was how much he believed in us. He believed in me.

The day before Christmas break, he pulled me aside and gave me a challenge: return from break with a part-time job in the media field. I was stunned. Did he not realize how competitive the Chicago area was?

What I didn’t know—until later—was that he had already contacted three places on my behalf. When I came back, I had a part-time job editing sports games for a local cable station. Eventually, I even got to work the cameras!

A Competition and a Lesson in Confidence

In our senior year, I teamed up with my friend Teresa (whom I’d known since grade school) and we entered a National Orange Juice commercial competition. Mr. Q coached us through everything: scriptwriting, camera angles, editing—and even mailed it in for us using his own money. We didn’t win. But you wouldn’t have known it by the way he bragged about us. He made us feel like champions.

Seeds That Bore Fruit

Teresa went on to start a production company with her husband—she’s even worked on Toyota commercials! Another in our class ended up working at Harpo Studios with Oprah. A few of us found our way into radio.

And yes, I’m still in touch with Mr. Q (Jerry) and his sweet wife Marilyn, now enjoying retirement in Arizona.

Jerry and Marilyn

A Teacher, A Calling, and God’s Hand

Looking back, I can clearly see that Mr. Q wasn’t just teaching us about video editing or broadcast scripts. He helped us discover our gifts. He saw something in me before I saw it in myself.

Today, I recognize that as God’s grace at work. God placed Mr. Q in my life at exactly the right time. He used this teacher’s encouragement to steer me toward the calling He had placed in my heart long before I understood it myself. (Even if I didn’t go to Southern Illinois University…sorry Mr. Q!)

Sometimes, God speaks through people who challenge us—who stretch us—who see our potential when we don’t. I’m forever thankful for a teacher who didn’t just teach a class, but helped guide me into God’s purpose for my life.

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