This is a continuation of my Letters To My Teachers series.

Dear Ms. Perry,

In 1994, I was a student in your Ham Radio class in I.S. 72. While our school was not known for its access to modern technology, you were steadfast in your dedication to teaching students about the joy of ham radio. To you, ham radio was a way to connect to the world outside of Staten Island. You taught us Morse Code. We had ham radio conversations with numerous truck drivers. We got a lobster fisherman in Maine to send us live lobsters and we had a lobster luncheon!

This was happening all at the same time that the Internet and the World Wide Web was becoming available to us in our homes. I remember being really confused at first about the purpose of ham radio because I was able to go home after school, login to Compuserve and go to the Star Trek chat room and type to anyone in the world about Star Trek.

You encouraged us to get a Ham Radio License, which I did. I don't remember my call letters, unfortunately. In order for us to use our license though, we needed the ham radio equipment. I remember doing research on the cost and if there was a way I could use a ham radio on my PC. I did not want to ask my parents to buy a ham radio because I knew we could not afford it. I found an expansion card for the PC so you can use your PC as a ham radio. Then things started aligning. I realized that it would not make sense for me to use my PC as a ham radio because the PC was already more advanced.

What I got out of your class was an appreciation for the technologies that came before our time. I learned to appreciate how expensive and challenging it was to communicate with people from around the world before the advent of the Internet. I learned to appreciate the value in learning deprecated technologies for the sake of expanding my education. Most important, you saw something in me and kept pushing me to get the license. You even made sure that I had a seat at that lobster lunch. While the other kids in our ham radio class were throwing paper balls and making loud noises, you noticed that I was paying attention and you made me feel special.

You made me feel special during a time in my life where I was being victimized by bullies in school verbally and physically. It was a time for me when I felt worthless. I was embarrassed to be alive. You helped make me feel better and inspired my career in technology. Thank you.