Sister Marion Etzel believes with all her heart in the sacredness and power of the classroom. She was an associate professor in the Division of Music Education at the School of Music of Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, and formerly at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
 
"I love education because it is a journey of the mind, for students and teachers. I also love education because along the way I meet so many people who also cherish learning as much as I do and who have dedicated their lives to a pursuit of truth," the professor said.

Her attraction to education is tied into a realization that, for many, education is the only chance to get out of a life that lacks quality and purpose. 

"If I can help someone achieve a better life filled with new hope, I will do it. I liken our role as urban educators to the vivid images I have of emergency rooms in urban hospital settings. There's not one more minute to waste," Sister Marion continued. 

"As a young teacher, what kept me in the field of education is the tremendous 'high' one gets at the end of the day knowing that students who were unable to do something at the beginning of the day now can do it and understand it. When students fail, part of my 'high' consists of figuring out a new way for the individual student to learn. I love being creative and figuring out a new way to unlock the door so that students of all ages can enter and learn," the veteran teacher said. 

One of Sister Marion's favorite images is of the monk with scroll in hand and lamp burning into the night. "We are part of a long tradition of scholarship in our Church. I fell so privileged to be a tiny drop in the big ocean of the pursuit of knowledge. I know from God that this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life!" 

She adds that just walking into a classroom gives her energy. "The joy of mission takes over and that's all I need to remember." Sister Marion is walking evidence that some people are born to teach.

If you would like to contact Sister Marion, please use this email:
etzelm@salvatoriansisters.org