Teachers
While grudgingly preparing for my graduation party (which is tomorrow, p.s.), I began to think back to all of my teachers - both those who were officially paid educators of the state and those whose role was in a less official capacity. Teachers are the shapers of the future as they obviously have a great influence in the lives of future generations, especially those from childhood.
Perhaps my most influential teacher from my childhood and up until adolescence was my best friend at the time, Nick. He was different from me in that he was more outgoing, more socially versed, more intelligent, and more experienced in matters. He knew things I didn’t and I knew I could always rely on him to answer my questions without making me feel like a complete ignorant. I do not believe that I would be nearly as confident in my social arena had it not been for the guidance Nicholas unwittingly provided.
Later on, the most dominant teacher in my later years did not arrive until January of this year. No matter my particular feelings for the second Nick in my life, he did teach me more about myself than any other person, including my own parents. Or maybe it wasn’t so much direct lessons or even observational learning as it was my experiences with him and the significance his opinions and thoughts held/hold in my life that shaped me so much. He was a teacher because he was one of the few people in my life willing to tell me to stop yelling and I actually respond.
Then there was Wilson who also offered to me himself as a mentor, offering his support and utmost confidence in my abilities - both in the classroom and in the pool. What I appreciated most about Wilson was the fact that he admired me for my work ethic and commitment to success in swimming before even knowing about my success in the classroom. Even after learning more about me, he remained steadfast in not letting that be my defining trait. To him, I was not the “smart kid” on the swim team, I was the kid who would show up at practices, refuse to cut yards, and swim whatever event I was thrown in without much in the way of complaining. He, for the first time, made me feel good about myself for something other than my A pluses or 100s, which in Churchville Chili, anyone could pull off with the right class schedule and teachers.
As for the more conventional idea of teachers, my most influential still remain at Fairbanks Road Elementary School. Ms. Bush, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Ryan, and Mrs. Varlan helped to foster my love for education and learning. Had it not been for them I imagine I would have grown more quickly disillusioned with the school system than I already did. They made sure learning, not grades, came first and part of measuring success is measuring effort. Their education was the time when class rank and grade point average were unknowns.
Teachers touch the future and mine certainly touched me. They had an impact without which I cannot fathom my life. Each of them imparted upon me something that remains a part of who I am and helps to explain why I am the way I am. I will never remember every lesson I was ever formally taught but theirs, in regards to this thing called life, I will carry with me forever.
Perhaps my most influential teacher from my childhood and up until adolescence was my best friend at the time, Nick. He was different from me in that he was more outgoing, more socially versed, more intelligent, and more experienced in matters. He knew things I didn’t and I knew I could always rely on him to answer my questions without making me feel like a complete ignorant. I do not believe that I would be nearly as confident in my social arena had it not been for the guidance Nicholas unwittingly provided.
Later on, the most dominant teacher in my later years did not arrive until January of this year. No matter my particular feelings for the second Nick in my life, he did teach me more about myself than any other person, including my own parents. Or maybe it wasn’t so much direct lessons or even observational learning as it was my experiences with him and the significance his opinions and thoughts held/hold in my life that shaped me so much. He was a teacher because he was one of the few people in my life willing to tell me to stop yelling and I actually respond.
Then there was Wilson who also offered to me himself as a mentor, offering his support and utmost confidence in my abilities - both in the classroom and in the pool. What I appreciated most about Wilson was the fact that he admired me for my work ethic and commitment to success in swimming before even knowing about my success in the classroom. Even after learning more about me, he remained steadfast in not letting that be my defining trait. To him, I was not the “smart kid” on the swim team, I was the kid who would show up at practices, refuse to cut yards, and swim whatever event I was thrown in without much in the way of complaining. He, for the first time, made me feel good about myself for something other than my A pluses or 100s, which in Churchville Chili, anyone could pull off with the right class schedule and teachers.
As for the more conventional idea of teachers, my most influential still remain at Fairbanks Road Elementary School. Ms. Bush, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Ryan, and Mrs. Varlan helped to foster my love for education and learning. Had it not been for them I imagine I would have grown more quickly disillusioned with the school system than I already did. They made sure learning, not grades, came first and part of measuring success is measuring effort. Their education was the time when class rank and grade point average were unknowns.
Teachers touch the future and mine certainly touched me. They had an impact without which I cannot fathom my life. Each of them imparted upon me something that remains a part of who I am and helps to explain why I am the way I am. I will never remember every lesson I was ever formally taught but theirs, in regards to this thing called life, I will carry with me forever.