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A
Message to
Teachers
"One
of the most influential people in my life was my 9th grade Latin
teacher, Tamara Velde. It was during a troubled time in my
life that she asked me to come and meet with her after school
one day. During that heart-to-heart talk she planted the
seed in my mind that would take me much farther that I ever
thought I could go. She told me firmly but compassionately
that I should try to accept what I could not change and to not
let sad circumstances weigh me down. But the most valuable
lesson she taught me was to take control over my emotions, look
ahead and make my life as positive as possible.
At
the age of 14, it seemed like a hard lesson and a tall
order. But Tamara Velde didn't just give me a lofty order
and then walk away. Over the four years of my high school
career she often talked to me and encouraged me to stay
positive. Developing
a positive attitude didn't happen overnight. In fact, it
didn't happen over those four years. I have learned it is
something to be worked on over one's entire life.
During
my 22 years of dog mushing, keeping a positive attitude has been
absolutely necessary to deal with the many challenges my dogs and I have
faced. I have been fortunate to have taken several journeys with my
dogs. When
I participated in the Iditarod Sled Dog Race in 1983, the trail
was well-groomed, mainly on land, and supplies were readily and
frequently available. However,
most of my expeditions have been far more challenging, over sea ice and only partly on
land, with little or no trail, and supplies were available only
at remote Arctic villages often located several hundred miles
apart. The teams have varied in size and, by Iditarod standards,
they have been small. I am proud to say I have never lost a dog on
any expedition. I hope that
as students follow my dogs and me on our journey across the
arctic, they will see that as we encounter many things beyond our
control, we do not let these problems weigh us down. My talk
focuses on the need to keep a positive attitude, to always try my
best and to help the dogs to do their jobs well. The same lessons
Tamara Velde taught me long ago."
-- Pam
Flowers
Talkeetna, AK
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