A Teacher’s Legacy
Lunch, Memories and Lifelong Connections
By Jordan Adair
Over the last 15 or so years, Jordan Adair, who retired from DA in 2024 after 29 years of teaching Upper School English and art history, has met up with dozens of former students over lunch or coffee. It’s a chance for them to catch up and reminisce — and later, via Adair’s beloved Facebook posts, to connect alumni with one another.
Getting together is like old home week. We talk about funny things from the past when I taught them, about how I’m doing, and most importantly about what they’ve been up to since I last saw them or taught them. When I was teaching, these lunches were a great break from the stresses of the job and a reminder of how lucky I was to be a teacher. Now that I’m retired, seeing these students is a reminder of one of the greatest dividends of teaching — the relationships you can foster that grow as the years pass. We laugh a lot, talk seriously about life and marvel at the journey they have taken.
I’ve learned life lessons from these students and that they are amazing people. They care deeply for others and have an expansive world view. They are smart, adventurous, compassionate, curious and incredibly successful. They have gone into a diverse range of professions, from medicine and teaching to technology and the military.
I realize that I am one of many adults who have helped them grow into the extraordinary people they have become. I am proud of who they are, and keeping in touch this way has allowed me to witness this growth.
Feb. 21, 2025
Had coffee this afternoon with professional musician and former student Terry Hsieh [’07]. Terry lives and works in Taipei, Taiwan — and is currently touring with the singer-songwriter David Lao — where he plays keyboards and trumpet. He has traveled a long and at times tough toad to get to this amazing place, playing to sold-out stadiums and soon to embark on a world tour. He’s also about to release his fourth album and is producing albums for two young and promising musicians. Keep on growing, Terry!
June 17, 2021
So good to see Molly Prentis Richey [’99] and Erika Estrada Boden [’99] for lunch at Kipos in Chapel Hill! They were two of the first students I taught at Durham Academy when I arrived in 1995. Molly is working in education here in North Carolina, and Erika is an entertainment lawyer in Miami. Sharing some old memories from our days together at DA and hearing more about their jobs and families was a beautiful way to spend part of this day!
October 23, 2024
Had brunch today at Snooze in Chapel Hill with former student and actor/dancer extraordinaire Isaac Uhlenberg [’08]. It’s been a few years since we last got together, but he’s living in Los Angeles and making his way in films and dance gigs. He’s a class act and an extraordinarily good man. Check out his moves on YouTube! So good to see you, Isaac!
Aug. 27, 2024
Amani Diallo [’23] is in town, and we grabbed lunch at Jason’s Deli today, where she gave me a recap of her first year at Brown. She is a former student, and I advised her in an independent study during her senior year. She made an incredible short film based on interviews with some of her fellow students that surely foreshadows some amazing possibilities for the future. She is a deeply thoughtful and morally aware young woman who is making the most of her life! So good to catch up!
Dec. 22, 2021
So happy to see former student and advisee Win Chesson [’02] today for lunch at The Root Cellar in Chapel Hill! Though we have been in touch over the years, this is the first time in a long while since we’ve gotten together. He and his partner, Audie, are in town for the holidays before heading to the West Coast for the winter and spring. After four years with Goldman Sachs, Win has started his own practice as a personal coach, covering both lifestyle issues and financial planning. Life is indeed good for them both.
April 13, 2024
It’s been many years since I last saw Julianna Szabolcs [’12], but she was one of my earliest art history students at DA! She is back in town for the weekend, and we got lunch at The Refectory in Durham. Julianna is a practicing substance abuse counselor, as well as a licensed mental health counselor working primarily with at-risk teenagers in the Washington, D.C., area. My respect for her is boundless for a whole host of reasons, but the work she does is even more remarkable given just how vital it is in this day and age. So good to see you, Julianna, and to hear firsthand about the important work you are doing. Thanks for reaching out and for the wonderful card you wrote. Keep up the good work and stay in touch!