Opening Doors … to Self Esteem

I hate science. Yet Dr. Parivar was one of my favorite teachers — I had him for 7th-grade general science — and we keep in touch to this day. He has a quirky tradition of taking a picture of each of his classes at the beginning of the school year. For the past 25 years or so, he’s collected these pictures in a huge album. At the end of the year, he has a party and gives everyone a copy of their class photo. Dr. Parivar was so much more than a science teacher because he was there to help us with any issues. His office door was always open. He invited us to talk to him about anything, science-related or otherwise. He was never too busy to listen. Here we were, 7th graders — just kids, really — and he made us feel important and respected. He wanted to know us for who we really were. — Joseph Katona ’06

Both academically and personally, Dr. Parivar was a truly wonderful influence. I always went into his class with a smile. It was the highlight of each day and an amazing positive experience. I learned things that I remember and use even now. Everyone always says how funny he is — and he really is — but he also made us feel like witty, worthwhile individuals who could learn. He put us at ease, let us be ourselves and helped us feel like capable, competent people. That’s important for kids who are growing and trying to find themselves. I’m sure everyone has those awkward, scarring memories from that period. To take a bunch of goofy, prepubescent kids and make them feel so good and so smart is not to be underestimated. Dr. Parivar made me like school and definitely showed me that anything is possible. I’m certainly lucky to have called him my teacher. — Lindsay Miller ’02