I remember Christa McAuliffe not just as a symbol of courage and aspiration, but as a teacher, a neighbor, a mentor and almost as a friend. She was an inspiration in our own community of Concord and at Bow Memorial School. It was impossible not to know her name and especially at Concord High School. By the time she was chosen to become the first teacher in space, she had already left a mark on all of us who attended Concord High School. Her determination, her warmth as a person and her unshakable dedication to education are qualities that many of us witnessed firsthand.
I recall walking the halls of Concord High and hearing stories about Christa from classmates who knew her … there was never a bad story. She was not distant or unreachable, she was one of us. Her excitement about teaching and her belief in the potential of every student was contagious even before the Challenger mission. She would portray that ordinary people could do extraordinary things if they were willing to dream and work hard.
She was especially excited about teaching us from space. She shared every aspect of the selection process with us. She sent me a postcard from Houston stating that she made it to the top 10. I still have that postcard. We were able to try space ice cream and she explained how the toilets worked in the space shuttles. She was one of the most personal, down-to-earth teachers I probably ever had. She treated us like people, an equal to her, not just like a student.
The memory of the day of the explosion is just like yesterday — very vivid. I was in the cafeteria, watching it on the TV when one of the teachers told us all to shut the hell up, because what we thought were the rocket boosters separating from the shuttle was actually the explosion and we were all cheering. When the teacher screamed in the cafeteria to shut up … that’s when we heard something tragic happened.
It was a shock. It was heartbreakingly personal. We lost someone who was not just a figure on the news, but someone who felt like she belonged to our town, to our school, to our shared hopes. The shock and grief rippled through Concord High and beyond. Our school received hundreds of banners stating how sorry people were from around the world and they were all displayed throughout the hallways. It put our small town on the map. Her story became more than a tale of tragedy. It became a lesson of courage and curiosity and the idea that you can do anything you put your mind to. “Reach for the stars.”
It is this lasting impact that makes me hope Concord High School would establish a tradition of observing a moment of silence each year on the anniversary of the Challenger explosion. A simple yet profound gesture that would honor not only Christa McAuliffe’s life, but also the ideals she represented: a commitment to learning, exploring and inspiring others. A moment of silence would serve as a reminder to each student that the path to discovery and growth is often in line with challenges, but it’s worth pursuing with courage.
Her story is a touchstone for our community. It reminds us that people we admire most often lift others as they climb, see the potential in everyone around them and dedicate themselves to leaving the world a little brighter. Her influence on us may never be measured by awards, but by the lives she inspired.
We are better for having known her. Let us pause, reflect and carry forward her spirit every year on that solemn anniversary.
Tammy Hickey was a former student of Christa McAuliffe at Concord High School. She currently teaches physical education at a middle school in Florida.