 What can I say about Josette Cook Surratt? She is one of the women I credit with changing my life. She was my freshman English teacher and speech coach who became my mentor and dear friend. I first introduced you to Ms. Surratt last fall when I visited her in my hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. Oh, look at this. When we first met in 1998, she was teaching English here at Turlings Catholic High School, and I was a 15-year-old freshman.