Today I got to communicate through email with my Math teacher from High School, Brother Placid Henriques. The last time I talked to him was in ’94, a year after my graduation from High School when I went back home for vacation. For the past few years, I have been trying to locate him to see how he’s doing and show my respect and gratitude.
Br. Placid came to Comboni as part of the Christian brothers to help people regardless of who and where they are. He gave his stay there his all. He taught Math and Sciences and did a magnificent job deploying the material to whoever was in his classes. After school, he joined us in playing basketball and volleyball and was very competitive doing that too. I still remember the day we both got into it arguing about a call during a volleyball match; he sent me home right away which I am thankful for until this day. I was being a knuckle-head and deserved it.
Br. Placid made me see Math in a different manner. Math was not just a group of sequences and operations but rather a conduit to an infinite number of possibilities and thoughts. He had us solving so many problems and exercises of all kinds (Calculus, Trigonometry, Algebra, Projectiles, etc.) and made them so interesting to the point where it was anomalous if a problem or task wasn’t solved.
I am very fortunate to have had you as a teacher and mentor growing up and a big believer that you have helped shape who I am today. I am sure hundreds or more will attest the same thing. Thank You Sir!