1. April 22, 2015
To Whom It May Concern:
I’m delighted to recommend Emily Thompson to the Fresno Economic Opportunities
Commission for the summer position of serving meals to children in need. I’ve knownEmily
for many years now, primarily as her English professor at Columbia College but also as a
personal friend. From these vantage points I’veobserved Emily’s intellect and character,
and in both areas I recommend her to youwith my highest enthusiasm.
My first acquaintance with Emily came in English 1B, a sophomore-level course that
analyzes all genres of writing. It’s a challenging course, full of arcane terms like “trochaic
quatrameter” and “synecdoche,” fullof tough essays like analyzing a character in a
Shakespearean play. No matter the challenge, Emily stepped up and aced everything. She
was stunning, at first in how thoroughly she understood the material but primarily in her
essays, those works of art of hers that put on display her capacity to understand very
difficultmaterial and to convey her insights in sharp, incisive sentences. But what
impressed me the most is that she took my suggestions for improvement witheagerness.
Rather than grousing, she wanted to know exactly how to get better, and then worked at it,
even on a small scale like correcting the one or twofragments that popped up.
So in all aspects of classwork, Emily excelled. She also excelled in her willingness to
volunteer, to jump up and participate in any of the silly things I ask of my students. Her
attitude was alwaysone of “yes,” an attitude that was especially apparent when she
participated in a field trip to Ashland, Oregon, fora weekof plays. We sixteen were in close
quarters on our buses and in our lodging, yet Emily was consistently upbeat, cooperative,
flexible. Plus, the factthat she came on this trip attests to her love of the arts and her
willingness to jump into something a bit unconventional.
That’s Emily as a student: top-notch, great attitude, disciplined, hard working, respectful,
fun, weird in a good way,original, ambitious, and very smart.
As a person, my regard forEmily is equally as high. She’s a wonderfulyoung woman with a
quick laugh and a curiosity about you as a person and the world around her. She looksyou
in the eye—evenscary old people like me—and carries on easy conversations. She’s as solid
as they come,with an integrity that’s impeccable.
All of these gifts—fromthe academic to the personal—are what convinceme that Emily
Thompson will be a great asset in your program to feed insecure children in Fresno. In brief,
hire her. She’s exceptional.
Sincerely,
Jim Toner, Professor of English
Columbia College
Sonora, California
tonerj@yosemite.edu; 209-588-5226