Editor’s Note: In honor of teacher appreciation week, five NWN staff members have chosen a teacher to write about. These teachers have made an impact on our lives, and we would like to show them our appreciation. Look for more articles throughout the week.

I’d just like to say thank you to Eric Oddo. When I walked into my global studies class as a freshman last year, I had no idea that the man standing at the front of the class would soon become a coach, a friend, and a role model to me.

Mr. Oddo introduced the concept of debate to me very early in the year last year. I was one of only a few students who was interested in debate, and later that week, I was on my way to room 3000 to find out what the Niles West Policy Debate Team was all about. Mr. Oddo was very friendly and patient with all of us, and constantly reminded us to just give debate a chance, because it can seem very intimidating to someone who is not familiar with it, but once you get used to it, you’ll be fine.

I’d just like to thank Mr. Oddo for introducing me to the debate team, and encouraging me to stick with it, because he introduced me to more than just a team. I am proud to say that the debate team is more than just a mere team to me – we are more of a family, and that is all thanks to the man who held us all together even at the most stressful of times.

Not only has Mr. Oddo introduced me to what I hope will develop into lifelong friendships, but he has also been someone to talk to when times are tough. I specifically remember walking into global studies last year, and handing Mr. Oddo a tardy pass. I was clearly upset, and instead of ignoring it, Mr. Oddo called me to the side at the end of class and told me that “he’s got my back.” That simple statement meant a lot to me, and Mr. Oddo has helped me with a lot of things in terms of getting my grades up, staying focused in school, and just pushing myself in academics overall.

I speak the truth when I say that Mr. Oddo is by far one of the smartest men I have ever met. I aspire to one day be as knowledgeable as he is, and also speak the way he does. As a current debate coach and a former debater, Mr. Oddo speaks with such clarity and confidence that it is hard not to completely focus on what he is saying. Never does a single “um” or “uh” escape his lips when he is giving a speech, and although those things may seem trivial, they are characteristics of someone who has done so much not only for me, but for a team of over 20 people. All of the little things he does for the debate team have made him an inspiration to us all.

On behalf of myself and the entire debate team, I’d just like to thank Mr. Oddo for always being there for us, through thick and thin.