Page 19 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2018 - Online Magazine

And wilier she was. Mrs. Kingston is one of the
funniest people I know. “I only ran over a few
children on the way here,” she always jokes when
she comes into class. Even as life throws hurdles
in our path, finding the courage to laugh goes a
long way. Her room is full of sheet music, books
that have probably existed longer than I’ve been
alive, and paintings that bring those words to life.
But my favorite decorations are the quotes: quotes
such as “Be nice or leave,” which are the perfect
blend of polite and sardonic.

During class, piano music would float through the
room, a sharp contrast to the frantic scribbling of
seniors attempting to earn college credit. Playing
background sounds like Debussy, jazz, and what
she considered “elevator music,” Mrs. Kingston
inspired in us interests that went beyond English.
Music was as much a gift to her as it was to the
rest of us—perhaps even more. She often told us of
the years of dedication to practicing piano and the
time management skills she learned in order to be
a well-rounded student. Small instances like these
helped me understand what true dedication is, a
quality I tried to incorporate into every aspect of
my life.

Besides helping me analyze other stories, Mrs.
Kingston has impacted my life through her own
stories. She still wears her wedding ring, even long
after she became a widow. For her, love is not a
situation of circumstance—it is a living, breathing
accomplishments, all the high points of my life. It was
force that takes many forms. Her love for God. Her lbk senior life magazine.indd 1 1/17/2018 10:06:24 PM
what-if story of high school romance. Her love for her Mrs. Kingston I mustered the courage to ask for one
greatest family member: her dog, Hanna Rose. Through teacher recommendation from…and then another…and
the wisdom in her own experiences, Mrs. Kingston then sixteen more. It was because of Mrs. Kingston that
allowed me to see how powerful love can be. I realized what I could be capable of as a student, even
beyond high school, even beyond the classroom.
Teacher, challenger, writer, elder, humorist, musician,
and loved one. Mrs. Kingston has had a tremendous Mrs. Kingston threw a gauntlet at my feet. But thanks to
impact on my life. She cheered on the sidelines of all my her guidance, I can confidently say: Challenge accepted.

Article Submitted by
Natalie Chaudhuri ALL SAINTS

Natalie Chaudhuri is a senior at All Saints Episcopal School. She is captain of the Speech
and Debate Team, treasurer of Student Council, secretary of National Honor Society,
editor of the school’s literary magazine, and founder of the high school’s book club. She
is also an attorney on the Varsity Mock Trial team and plays violin for the band. Natalie
was recently recognized as a National Merit Semi-Finalist and is a two-time national
qualifier in Speech and Debate. She will pursue her love of global issues by majoring in
International Relations at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Lubbock Senior Link 19