influences

Ok, I have an exercise for you. Think back, over the years - as far back as you can possibly remember.... Specifically, think about all the teachers you have had and how they have influenced you - in your development, moral, emotional, educational growth. Has anything they said or done stayed with you? Why or why not?

I was recently watching a movie that made me think A-HA! Suddenly, all the pieces of a puzzle fell into place. As I have been teaching over the past few weeks, more and more is coming back to me.

I was thinking about this English teacher in high school. One, was woman, who was recently divorced and often talked about her problems in class. Of course, when class was excused, many people made fun of that teacher. I am not sure if I did or not, but of course I thought she was a little off her rocker. But, at the end of the day, what I remember most is two things: She was real to me. She was a real person, with real problems, and she allowed us to see her soul. I am not saying, it is good to let your students into your personal life... but one thing the younger generation can appreciate is when an adult is REAL with them.

The next thing, I remember about her, is how much she helped me in my writing. At the time, I thought she spent a lot of time writing my essays for me. But, I see now that wasn't the case. As I was helping my own student write an essay, I had to teach her how to make a thesis. How to introduce paragraphs. How to conclude. And of course, I had to teach her to add words like "however" and "furthermore". This is exactly what my teacher had taught me... and I didn't realize until now, how much influence that teacher had on my writing.

Another teacher, I remember so well, very highly resembled the Professor in "Dead Poet's Society." He was a little wacky, but in a good way. He had longish hair, and wore a "bandana" (or hankerchief) under his shirt collars like a tie. But again, what I remember the most? His PUSH for me to develop my writing. This same student who was writing an essay, I have begun teaching her the process of writing short stories. I looked at my own writing on her assignments. "Develop this further". "Show don't tell." "DESCRIBE it, don't just write it." SubhanAllah. It could have been my own teacher's chicken scratchings on her paper, and I felt all warm and fuzzy inside.

I had a few other teachers that stood out in my mind. Why? Because they PUSHED me. They motivated me. They befriended me. And, as a teenager stumbling through this world, that is what I needed. I needed someone to help me be GOOD at something. To develop. To grow. To excel.

I was certainly blessed I think, to have such role models. And many of those teachers were in English or History. They helped shape how I thought and how I expressed myself. And, I will never ever forget them or be able to repay them for their significance in my life. The funny part is, they probably don't even know. Just as I will not know if I ever really have significant influence on my own son, or my own students. But, at the very least I can be grateful I know what it means to have a role model and do my best to help others in this same regard.

So thank you, Mrs Shubert. Thank you Mr. Coukell. Mr. Wilkinson. Mr. Quesnel. Mrs. Sholtz. You will never be forgotten.