I received an email this afternoon. It said Jane, the instructor of our writing class, has passed away. I was left with a feeling of lost and sadness.
In reality, I do not have the fortune to meet Jane in person. Our class started last Sunday. She was too sick to attend. On that day the class was run by another student, who is also a writer and a well qualified teacher. We have learned the rules and practiced a little. Then off we go, we are to write a short piece to our partner under a structured schedule everyday for the entire duration of the eight week class. And today I have written my fourth piece.
Jane has not taught us anything, but I have already learned a lot. Everyday I looked at the short prompt she sent us, my mind drew a blank. I sat there and wrote and wrote. Twenty minutes later I have it done. A piece that is short and sweet. I didn’t know I could do that.
Every time I complete a piece, I positively feel happy. I look forward to doing this again the next day and then the day after and so on. Judging from the number of returning students who do this session after session for multiple years, it is not an exaggeration to say her class has changed many lives.
It is sad to think the class will be without her. I wish there will be a chance for me to say thank you.
A few years later, this memory becomes a full piece of my post - https://www.tungwaiyip.info/p/jane-underwood-my-writing-teacher