1. September 8, 2014
To Whom it May Concern:
It is my privilege to recommend a former student of mine for employment. I taught Rebecca
Quintero for three consecutive years while she attended the American School of Doha. In each of the
classes I taught, I found her an interested and highly motivated student: anxious to learn and willing
to devote the time and energy necessary to accomplish that growth. While many other teenagers went
through difficult or moody times where education became less than important, Rebecca remained a
steady performer and demonstrated a maturity beyond her young years.
As a Fine Arts teacher, I strive to bring out the creative nature of students and push them to
think outside the box and do their best. Rebecca was good at both of these things. She has strong
artistic instincts and is a perfectionist with her work, yet she is still open to new things. I remember
once in drawing class when Rebecca brought me a beautifully, but very delicately, rendered drawing
and told me that it was finished. At the time, we were focusing on value and the assignment was
supposed to include the entire range of values from rich blacks to very pale greys and even whites.
Many young artists have a real fear of using the very dark values, and Rebecca was definitely one of
these. Her drawing was so delicate and perfect, she was afraid to push that value into the very dark
end of the scale. Finally, though, after pushing and pushing her, she did it in one area only. However,
the difference that it made in that one area convinced her to incorporate the rich darks throughout.
The final outcome was a beautiful cultural self-portrait which I sincerely hope she has framed and on
display somewhere in her home! I think that one instance demonstrates her persistence as well as her
flexibility. Though she may at first resist if something is totally alien to her, she is also able to see the
“value” of change and adapt to it when it will improve things. It was a lesson which demonstrated not
only her innate abilities, but also her ability to continue learning and growing.
Rebecca is a gentle soul that has a great deal of ability. She is intelligent and a hard worker as
well as totally reliable. If she says she will do something or if something is assigned to her, she will
absolutely take responsibility for it and see it to the end. Truly, I cannot say enough positive things
about this young lady. Whatever job she ends up with, she will do it well and make her employer
proud. I recommend her without reservation. Please feel free to contact me if you need further
information. I can be reached through email at any time.
Cordially,
Kathy Ryer, Art Instructor
kryer@asd.edu.qa
(974)587-0328