Mr. Seidel, Memories and Reflections, Continued

When I was a freshman, I was going through a really difficult time. My grades were low, I wasn’t happy with my life, and I often struggled to come to class. In Pre-AP World History, Mr. Seidel checked on me every day, even when I wasn’t very receptive. He would always tap me on the shoulder and ask if I was okay. At the end of the year, he told me that I was a smart student, that he believed in me, and that I was capable of earning good grades. Hearing that from him motivated me to work harder throughout high school and changed the way I approached challenges in my life. I’m incredibly grateful that Mr. Seidel took the time to reach out to me when I needed it most.

THHS Senior Natalia Piekarski

"Hearing that from him motivated me to work harder throughout high school and changed the way I approached challenges in my life."

"Being his student, I had the privilege to be taught by a teacher who really cared about the material he was teaching and the students he was teaching."

Mr. Seidel was a kind soul who cared for us all. When I was a sophomore, I ended up in his classroom by accident while following a friend who had a class there. Although I didn’t belong there, I expected this unfamiliar teacher to be annoyed by my presence. I, who had no business being there, quickly came up with an excuse: “I had my US Regents in 8th grade waived, do I have to take it next year?” Of course, I knew the answer to this question, yet it was the only way to justify my being there. And with a smile on his face, Mr. Seidel happily responded to my question and even told me to talk to him about it later. Of course, I didn’t follow up on this because the question was made up, yet as fate would have it, I ended up in his class the next year. Now, being his student, I had the privilege to be taught by a teacher who really cared about the material he was teaching and the students he was teaching. I, who was just getting into baseball, started to talk to him about the Mets, a team my family grew up as fans of. He, being an avid Mets fan, always seemed interested in what I would talk to him about regarding the Mets. This connection would carry itself into the next year, my final year, where I can recall my final memory with him. I was walking with a Juan Soto Mets jersey, and he looked at it and said, “Nice jersey.” Mr. Seidel will always be remembered in my heart because of the unconditional kindness he showed to me and everyone else.

THHS Senior Israel Morales

"Every morning, I used to see him in 415 and talk to him."

Mr. Seidel was one of the sweetest, kindest, most hardworking people I ever had the chance to meet. Every morning, I used to see him in 415 and talk to him. Sometimes, it was just a few words, sometimes it was a longer conversation, but, looking back, it was an integral moment in my every day.

THHS Junior Aki Benjamin

"He cared deeply for his students."

Mr. Seidel was kind. I will never forget his kindness. He was gentle when he spoke and always conscious of people's time, even at his own inconvenience. He was always punctual to meetings, prepared, and had thoughtful things to say. He cared deeply for his students. I will miss him.

THHS teacher Valeria Jacobs

"I knew to pick him as the teacher I'd impersonate."

I remember when it was Founders Day, I knew to pick him as the teacher I'd impersonate. I'm glad I got to do so and hear the audience laugh and cheer when I went on. The collective cheer showed how much joy he brings to everyone, even the teachers.

THHS Senior Annahi Guaman

"He would always, and I mean always, ask who our opponent was, how we felt about it, and then say,'you guys got this.'"

AMr. Seidel was always involved with everything the school had to offer, like S!NG, FON, and sports games. Since he knew me and my friend were on the girls basketball team, he would always, and I mean always, ask who our opponent was, how we felt about it, and then say,“you guys got this.” The next day he would ask the score, how it went, and whether we thought we played our best. He always showed that he cared about our lives and interests outside of APUSH.

THHS Alumna Azeezat Yusuf

During sixth band APUSH, Mr. Seidel saw my entire table drinking Celsius (the energy drink), and he told us about a time he had one and couldn’t sleep for three days straight. He made us laugh, and we ended up just talking about the pros and cons of energy drinks. It was a core memory that shaped our relationship with him throughout the year.

THHS Senior Jedadiah Juarbe

"He made us laugh."

"He always had a strong love for his family. And whenever he wasn’t teaching or talking about things he did with his family, he was expressing his love for fishing, as well as the Mets."

I remember how Mr. Seidel viewed all his students as people rather than objects at a desk. I remember how he would always make jabs towards the College Board, but still actively wanted us to achieve our goals of getting a 5 on the APUSH exam. I remember all the fist-to-fives he would do to check in on us at the beginning of class. I remember the day I came into class after having seen the sequel to Beetlejuice and, upon telling him that, he asked me for my thoughts on the movie and whether I thought it was suitable for his kids to watch with him. He always had a strong love for his family. And whenever he wasn’t teaching or talking about things he did with his family, he was expressing his love for fishing, as well as the Mets. I deeply regret not taking the time this year to visit him, or even just say “hi” while passing him in the hallway. A part of me wishes I could turn back time in order to fix that.

THHS Senior Bryson DeLosSantos

"What he wanted was to know what made people tick and what their passions were outside of their work."

In a recent conversation, I remember transitioning, for whatever reason, from talking about school to talking about my Halloween decorations.

I was caught off guard at how enthusiastically he yelled "Yes!" when I told him I loved going too far with decorating my front lawn and making spooky things by hand. We ended up talking about a shared love of zip ties, and he told me some wonderful stories about his father's craftiness.

At the end of my last conversation with him, I shook his hand and said "A pleasure," as in "It's been a pleasure talking to you." I never really say things like that, but I felt like saying it in that moment. I'm glad I did. It was a pleasure talking to him.

I hadn't really thought about what exactly made those conversations so memorable. However, reading through all of our students' and colleagues' beautiful memories of Mr. Seidel helped put that "Yes!" into context for me. He could have a conversation about school any time, and he was a true professional. But what he wanted was to know what made people tick and what their passions were outside of their work. When you gave him that, he became excited, almost giddy. That was what the "Yes!" meant. It made you feel good. It was, and remains, Real. Our students, all of his students, were so lucky to have him.

THHS teacher Brian Sweeney

The Classic

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