Mr. Majors was my Grade 12 chemistry teacher. I did not like chemistry. It's not that I didn't like chemistry - I didn't like school. It was not a 90% for me. I really struggled at school. I did not like to sit all day, I loved to talk (go figure) and I would challenge my teachers all the time. I would ask my social studies teacher why I needed to memorize the names of lakes, I refused to dissect the frog because I thought it was terrible and gross, and on and on. I skipped a lot (which could help explain why my grades suffered) and couldn't wait to graduate.

Chemistry was by far my greatest challenge. My constant questions to Mr. Majors were "why do I need to know this?" and "when will I ever use this in my life?". My first semester I received an esteemed mark of 16%. Yup. 16%.

My year-end chemistry mark would determine if I was to graduate. I had my 1968 Volkswagen packed and I was ready to live my life. I knew I had to get serious about this class. I asked Mr. Majors if he would help me. I promised him I would show up if he would please give me a little extra help. He agreed. We worked hard together.

The last day of school when they were passing out report cards. I learned that Mr. Majors had mine and I was to go and see him after school. I thought the worst.

There he was at his desk. I could see the brown envelope. He looked up and said "Oh good I wanted to talk to you". I could smell summer school in the air.

He held out my report card and I asked him in a quiet nervous voice "Did I pass?" He let me open the envelope and whew... I had passed.

He walked me out of his classroom and as I was walking the hall to "freedom" he said, "I want to tell you something". My heart sank.. "what else??"

He said words that I will never forget. He said "Darci I don't know where you are going in that '68 beetle or where life will take you but I know a couple of things.

I know for sure that whatever you go on and do in your life, it will have absolutely NOTHING to do with chemistry.

And I know something else, that whatever you go on and do in your life, it will be something great". And he turned and walked away.

I think about Mr. Majors and his parting words all the time. I think they have had a huge impact on who I've become.