The Impact of Mr. Carapezza: Lessons that Last a Lifetime
“I can't print words how much he means to me as a person, because other students I can say right now would be devastated if he left. The impact he's had on our community is so great, yet some people might not even realize it. From what I know, Mr. C’s impact is beyond comprehension.”
Have you ever seen Mr. C have a bad day? Just by asking that question, I can guarantee that you either said no or I don't know because nobody's really seen Mr. C feeling down. Overall, Mr.C is a very determined and optimistic person, and I want to take some time to explain and appreciate why he's like that.
When I first came to school I was met with two advisors. They were Ms. Samuels and Mr. Kimm. Those two were not going to be the people I spent the next 4 years with as my advisors in high school. But as time went on in the 9th grade year, both Ms. Samuels and Mr. Kimm left. Throughout the time of Kimm/Samuels being my advisors, two people would always be there for my advisory. Those two were Ms. Rebitzer and Mr. C, also known as Mr. Carapezza.
When they first heard that my advisory had no advisors, they were the first ones to take that spot with no hesitation, and I'm thankful for that. But with Mr. C, it was different. He saw something in all of us, and I felt like he saw something special in me, as well. I feel as if everything I've done now is because of him. Everything I do — the JP Morgan internship, student council, or high honors in some classes — feels indebted to him. That's because no matter what, he always pushes me to do my best and because of him I don't know my limits.
Within academics, Mr. C is possibly one of the best people you can go to for help within the math and science category. From what I know, he took AP calculus, he's taught environmental science, he's taught honors physics, he saw 9th-grade physics, and overall he has a high academic background. With that, I feel that he can push so many other students to learn the same things he did if not more, because he's able to teach students so much that he's learned. They can go through that same track if not a different track but with the same skill set, and I'm glad a person like him is in the Comp Sci High community. It’s not just me, either. For many others, the Comp Sci High community would not feel complete without Mr. C, and that's because of how he is always pushing people to be their best no matter what the cost is.
Outside of academics, as someone who has gone on a lot of trips with him and has spoken with him one-on-one, I can say that Mr. C's overall a great person. Yes he is academically strong within school, but he is also a genuine person. Mr. C makes you feel safe to speak to him, and he makes you feel that you can tell him anything and that secret is safe.
I’ve had many great memories with Mr. C, but if I can give one good memory I've had with him, it was when I went on the camping trip with him when I was in ninth grade. That's when I first got to really meet him as a person and that's why I realized that I'm glad to have him as my advisor. Because I know that if I need something, he's the first person I can go to. Recently when I went with him as a counselor to this year's trip, I saw that he is still the same person. He is timeless; he doesn't change. He's still fun. He makes anything fun. I can't print words how much he means to me as a person, because other students I can say right now would be devastated if he left. The impact he's had on our community is so great, yet some people might not even realize it. From what I know, Mr. C’s impact is beyond comprehension.
This year I'm going to be graduating, and I will no longer be within the school or an advisee of Mr. C. But what I do know is that when we do graduate he's not going to stop being the person he is. He's going to want to push students to be just like how he left us — ready to do whatever and able to push past our limits. I know that if one day I ever stop talking to Mr. C, I may not have communication with him, but I will still have the impact he had on me. That impact: lessons that last a lifetime.