Recently, I was quite shaken by a loss of a woman who really influenced my life in the arts throughout my high school career. I think it was because, after I found out, I realized I had so much I had to say to her that I wish I had.

That woman is Janet Root, someone who contributed in unbelievable amounts to my high school's theater program. This was the place where my love for acting really started, and the wonderful faculty, facilities and resources my school had to introduce students to theater and train them to exceptional levels, levels that some even said were professional, were largely due to her. She absolutely loved the arts and wanted to make sure the people at Shorecrest Preparatory School had every opportunity to experience them to their fullest potential.

She didn't only value the arts, though. She knew all of us that were involved in that program personally, and she always wanted to know what was happening in your life and was always happy to talk about anything.

I remember distinctly that I was having trouble deciding whether or not theater would be something I wanted to do while at MIT, largely because I was doubtful of the caliber of theater that would be there. Let me first say that those doubts were completely ill-placed, as the theater at MIT is filled with people more passionate than I've ever seen anywhere else and has been probably one of the best experiences of my life. Let me say secondly that it was Janet Root who told me it would be exactly that. She assured me the department was magnificent and even questioned why I wouldn't go there in the first place. Janet knew that I would be able to dig into both of my passions completely at MIT, but I figured she was just saying anything to put my mind at ease.

Janet also saw my passions way before I did. In high school, I enjoyed acting and theater, but more as a hobby. Now it's something that I am seriously considering trying to pursue as a career. In senior year of high school, though, acting was one of the furthest things I wanted to do in that sense. I didn't think I was anywhere near good enough to do, and I didn't really have a reason to think otherwise. But she had this excitement when she talked to me about acting in the future. She always seemed to mention it as a totally futuristic occurrence. She believed in me far before I even did.

Sadly, Janet Root passed away this last week. I didn't even explicitly think about all the ways she has influenced my life and countless others at my high school until I heard that news, and I've felt weird about it all week. I wish I could thank her and tell her thanks for her support in my choice to go to MIT. I wish I could thank her for taking an interest in my life at a point when it really is most critical. Lastly, I wish to thank her for giving me the opportunity to experience such a level of professionalism in theater at such an early age. It was a fantastic experience.

To the rest of my high school teachers, thank you as well for your interest in my life. I realize now as I look at my interactions with Janet that all of you were far more invested in our futures than is typically the case during high school, and all of you wished to see every one of us succeed. Thank you for all of your mentorship and support.

My last words are as follows: death can surprise you even when there is warning. When I heard the news, I really looked at the interactions that I personally had with her as well as the influence she had on the school, and it really hit me in an unexpected way. Never take anything for granted, and if someone has influenced you or inspired you or supported you in any way, it never hurts to let them know how much it means to you. I doubt it bothers them if they hear it multiple times, and it is those little things in life that I begin to forget and take for granted.

R.I.P Janet Root. Thank you for all of your generosity, support and excitement.