Torri Wightman

Remembering Torri
By Seth Jacobson / Correspondent
Thursday, May 25, 2006
L ast year, while working as an English teacher at South Shore Charter Public School in Norwell, I decided to place a weird book order. I elected to read “On the Road,” by Jack Kerouac with my students, which is not your typical classroom text. The book is full of stream-of-consciousness passages and describes strange encounters with unique people, wild parties and traveling around the country without a worry. I wasn’t sure any of the kids were going to like it, because it was so out of the ordinary and complex.

But one of them, a bright young student named Victoria “Torri” Wightman, came up to me after class one day after we started reading it and said, “Hey J, I just wanted to tell you I think this is a really cool book.”

Many of my students simply referred to me as “J” and Torri was one of them. In fact, she was one of the first students to call me by that name. In any case, Torri put me at ease that day. I was worried all of my students were going to think I was crazy for ordering the novel.

Last week, Torri died in a car accident at 16 years old and those who knew her are still trying to come to grips with that. I still can’t believe someone so promising, so full of life, can be here one second and gone the next. I believe Torri will always be with those who loved her and I know she will stay in my heart as long as I live.

She was a student who accepted me as a new teacher and gave me the confidence to learn how to operate in the classroom. She would always keep me updated on my progress by coming up to me after class and saying, “You’re doing awesome, J” or “I have no idea what you’re talking about, J.”

In English class, she always read aloud when called upon and she would often have a joke to crack when she was done with whatever passage she was reading. And she never missed a photo opportunity with her picture-taking cell phone, even if it happened to be in the middle of class. “Hey J, smile!” she would say, pointing her phone in my general direction as I sat at my desk, following along with what my students were reading aloud. And I would smile, because Torri was never a distraction. She was just very entertaining and I could’ve never gotten aggravated with her if I tried.

Photography was something in which Torri really expressed an interest. She was also in my journalism class, and of course, she was one of my three photographers, along with her friends, Devin and Eliza. That class was held three days a week in two-hour increments, so those in the journalism workshop spent a lot of time together last year. Torri would always walk in at the beginning of class and tell me she was going to take candid photos around the school. And she did. Torri always came back with great shots. She really seemed to have the knowledge as to what constituted a great photograph. She was also a great writer, which she illustrated through articles and things she wrote in English class. She had her own personal folder of writing as well, which was quite astounding.

Torri was just an amazing kid in everything she did. She was a great conversationalist and quick with her wit. Sometimes, I couldn’t tell if she was joking about something or not because of her subtle mannerisms. But as soon as her smile lit up, I could always tell the joke was on me and I didn’t mind.

I will miss Torri but like I said, she’ll always be with those who loved her. Even though I was her teacher, I think she taught me more than I could’ve ever taught her. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s absolutely true.

My heart goes out to Torri’s mom, dad and the rest of her family, along with her many friends.

She was a bright star and her light will never burn out. We can all be sure of that.

Seth Jacobson worked at the South Shore Charter Public School last year, and was previously the editor of the Norwell Mariner newspaper.