After being orphaned at the age of four in 1985, I landed in the Sugar House district of Salt Lake City with my elderly grandmother. I grew up across the street from Westminster College on the very edge of Emerson’s borders. I attended afternoon kindergarten classes with Ms. Cahoon and remained at Emerson through to the sixth grade with Mrs. Shirley. I was a grade behind one cousin, two grades above another cousin and had countless neighbors and family friends in the school. It was a community, a vibe and a tribe.
I helped put Lamb-er in the slammer! I won and lost spelling bees. I had my first kiss behind the school by the old portable classrooms. I had my first fist fight, gave our sixth grade commencement speech, climbed the building’s rooftop and even voted for the first time in my old cafeteria. Emerson also produced one of the best junior Jazz teams Salt Lake County recreation has ever seen!
Emerson Elementary was everything to me. I had countless formative experiences and created many connections attending this school. Personally, I remember the kids from elementary much better than the kids from high school.
I went on to be a college athlete, earn a masters degree and now live and work in New York City. I attest much of my journey to the many academic and life lessons learned at Emerson.
I personally know dozens of highly successful people in and out of Utah who came from this little school on the east central side of the city that has always drawn progressive, eclectic and innovative families from Salt Lake City’s working class. It would be a huge mistake to close this school, as it’s obviously a great part of Salt Lake proper’s tradition and culture.
Michael Jessie Cordray, New York
