Remembering Mr. A One Year Later

When the word impact comes in mind most people think of it as something or someone that inspires you, but the definition states “having a strong effect on someone or something.” A great principal, Lorimer Arendse, put a whole new meaning on the word impact, not only to the school but the students and staff.

Mr. A was a well-known person because he was the principal to the students at Grand Prairie High School, but he was also a leader to the staff in the morning and a father during the evening. The reason Mr. A gave a new meaning to the word impact is because he was dealing with stage four of lung cancer and despite his health, he always had great love for the students, staff, the school and his family. He managed to go out of his way, even in his weaker moments, to go to an event or just to walk around school to see what great progress was being made and to see the staff or students with a smile on their faces.

"He was a leader and showed me skills such as leading and loving," said Mr. Bonsu.

Mr. A was not just some principal that nobody cared about. When he passed away on December 15 of last year, it affected almost everyone that knew him and even if you didn’t know him, you knew of him and how he touched a lot of people's heart. Some staff members had a hard time dealing and coping with the thought of him gone.

"When I found he passed away I cried and cried a lot. I felt depressed," said Ms. Gray, campus life coordinator.

Frank Norris, a teacher at Grand Prairie felt similar.

"I found out he passed away when I got an email. I froze for a few moments and walked out my class because I had a so much pain in my heart at that point," he said.

To students, Mr. A was the “coolest principal they ever had.” Even though he is gone, he touched their lives and made himself known in the best way. He showed students that they were not just students to him t but human beings. He felt their needs and tried to understand them on a deeper level.

Staff members on the other hand knew him as not just a boss or their co-worker, but a leader.

Ms. Gray remembers going through the loss of her grandfather and Mr. A telling her that it was okay to leave to go see him and that he wanted the address. When Ms. Gray was there at her grandfather's funeral, Mr. A came and gave his condolences.

"He was not just someone I work with or my friend. He was my family," Ms. Gray said.

Samuel Bonsu, an assistant principal, and Mr. A were like two peas in the pod because of their shared beliefs and desire to make a difference and changes.

"He always gave the best advice for me to strive in what I’m trying to succeed in," Mr. Bonsu said.

As for other teachers and staff, Mr. A was not just a boss. He was a person you would want to know and wish you would meet because he was an inspiration to many.

"He was a man that managed to stay strong even when he knew he was losing a battle, but he had hope and kept fighting because he believed God," Mr. Garcia said.

Even though he is gone, students and staff know that is legacy will carry on and he is in a better place living without pain. If you listen to people and the memories that they had with him, it makes you feel like tearing up or pausing for a moment to reminisce on someone you lost.

“He is a man that I will never forget,” Associate Principal Katie Eisel said.

In conclusion, Mr. A will always be “that principal.” The one that was a loving father. The one that was a leader to the staff. The one that was a inspiration to students. The one that changed people’s lives for the better. No matter what God threw at him, he stayed strong in life no matter what and is now a beautiful angel watching over Grand Prairie High School and the people he cared about.