Sometimes I am a very stupid man who carries prejudice on things that I know nothing about. I must admit I know nothing about Drama, but I do know something about lasers and people from my career. Please bear with this comparison of drama students and quantum mechanics.

Of the many materials that make up this universe, only a few, when properly stimulated, emit light. Fewer still shine with a purity of only one wavelength or color, we call that monochromatic. A common red light-emitting diode (LED) and a less common red semiconductor laser both radiate a 650nanometer wavelength, red light. The LED is incoherent, meaning each atom randomly generates a photon, so some light waves peak while others trough, canceling each other's output. (Destructive interference.) A semiconductor red laser is made just like the common red LED, but with one important exception: it is built within a precise cavity, a little box with mirrored sides that reflect some of the light back on itself. The peak of this reflected light stimulates more sluggish atoms to release their photons simultaneously, getting the whole process in sync. The restrictive cavity resonates, putting out light that is both monochromatic and coherent; i.e. laser light.

A common LED puts out about 3 milliwatts of light that sharply diverge (spreads out) so that the 'spot' cast upon a surface fades away within inches. A laser pointer with exactly the same amount of power can cast a spot up to a quarter of a mile away. Being monochromatic and coherent, or 'on the same wavelength and in sync' makes all of the difference in the world.

I have not previously placed a high enough value on Drama or the work you do. I'm sure the restrictions and attention to detail that you enforce is often not appreciated by the students, either. But it is just this discipline that channels the combined energy of seventy teenagers and transforms it into a good play instead of a riot. I know how hard it is to motivate people, and how difficult it is to get them to work together. Seeing your performance last night opened the eyes of my heart to appreciate what a tremendous feat you've accomplished.

Your students shined on cue and worked in harmony to produce an effective performance. I applaud you as a truly remarkable man possessing many gifts--
...patience- I don't have,
...perseverance- to keep plugging away at this,
...vision- to see what people are capable of,
...courage- to make demands on performers and crew,
...the 'guts'- to set a high standard and stick to it,
...the administrative skill- to pull together a multifaceted presentation.

Your work reached me last night.
 
My attitude is changed.
 
You succeeded.
 
May God bless you for what you have invested into the lives of so many young people; values applicable to any career. You are a treasure to this school and to the community.