A teenager is selling charity calendars packed with inspirational quotes in memory of his late teacher, who loved to share wise words with his pupils.
Jamie Harkin, 18, from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, was taught English by Graham Peters, before he died from cancer in 2017. Jamie wanted to do something in memory of Mr Peters before heading to university next year.
“It wouldn’t be right to move on without paying tribute to a man who was such a huge part of my life at school, who developed my love for the subject of English,” he tells HuffPost UK.
“Mr Peters was a huge lover of quotes. His classroom walls were adorned with quotes from Disney, Toy Story, Roald Dahl and everything in between.”
Mr Peters was a positive influence on Jamie and his classmates as soon as they started secondary school, he says. One of his fondest memories is his first lesson with Mr Peters, when the teacher stood at the front of the room with a bowl of oranges.
“He used an orange analogy to teach us that, just like you can squeeze all the juice out of an orange, he was going to get the very best out of us for the duration he taught us,” the 18-year-old explains. “I thought this was magical.”
Jamie says they could always hear Mr Peters from the top of the corridor before they could see him, adding: “He always had a story to share or something we’d be interested in listening to.”
The desk calendars contain a positive thought for every day of the year, which Jamie describes as a “daily prescription of inspiration”. They include quotes from films and celebs, as well as from Mr Peters, who used to tell his students: “I’m not leaving until I see you smile.”
Jamie is selling them for £10 each, with proceeds going to local charity Care for Cancer, where the teen has been volunteering for more than two years during his free time.
“Seeing cancer patients fighting their battle with the support of Care for Cancer is truly inspiring,” he says. “You really don’t know how much your efforts and fundraising is appreciated until you see how it is helping people on your own doorstep.”
The teen hopes the calendars will provide positive inspiration to people each day. “If at least one person smiles at a quote every day, then I have achieved my ultimate goal,” he says.
Calendars are priced at £10 each with all proceeds going to Care for Cancer. You can order a calendar online here.
5 quotes from the calendar:
“I’m not leaving until I see you smile.” Graham Peters
“If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.” Dolly Parton
“A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men.” Roald Dahl
“To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honours.” Tia Walker
“To infinity and beyond!” Toy Story