It isn't hard to write about the great teachers in my life. I was blessed to have many mold and inspire me to who I am today.
I think this Japanese proverb says it best: "Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher."
Great teachers go beyond and inspire kids to take the next step, to take the next risk and achieve more than they ever imagined possible. Teachers always see the potential and it is because of that they work endlessly to better each child's future.
Here is a tribute to my own great teachers in my life. For you I am grateful.
Mrs. Rainey: My first grade teacher who would take care of me well before the bell rang because my mom had to be at work and it wasn't safe to ride the bus. It was because of you that I felt safe and secure my first year at school. You also taught me to be good because I still remember the disappointed look on your face when you had to give me detention for talking. Thanks for making me feel special when I felt so different and scared.
Mrs. Hiblong: Thanks for seeing my potential and intelligence when no one else did. I will always remember you crying when I wasn't accepted into the Gifted and Talented program in third grade. Thanks for giving me confidence in my abilities and to believe that it was important to be smart.
Mrs. Henderson: Thanks for letting us burn off steam on the high school baseball field learning that the great game of softball. Also, thanks for letting us check out your own supply of books and introducing me to C.S. Lewis.
Mrs. Smith: Thanks for teaching the strange GT kids and giving us open reigns to create and use our imaginations. Sorry I skipped out so much on you! You were very inspirational!
Mrs. Hearn-Thanks for introducing me to writing for a newspaper-who knew that writing the eighth grade gossip column would lead to a degree in journalism!
Ms. Ward: Thanks for introducing me to writing and teaching me how to bring out what is in my head to paper! Thanks for encouraging our talents and teaching us tricks to bring out those talents.
Mr. Owen: Thanks for taking our creativity to new heights! Thanks for spending all the extra time directing the play and really showing us what acting really is! I will never forget the day you told us the story of your girlfriend dying in the car accident. We were all in tears-great teaching!
Mrs. Watson: Thanks for making dissecting animals interesting instead of disgusting and for letting us pick our own lab partners!
Ms. Rowan: Thanks for being the best "Seniorita" around. How many teachers would let her senior class have dinner at her house? Thanks for exposing me to the Spanish language and culture in a way I would never forget.
Ms. Polly: I could have never hoped for a better mentor, professor or friend when I needed it the most. Thanks for teaching me photography, design skills and writing along with how to survive all nighters. College was an awesome time because you took us under your wings and took care of us students when we needed it the most.
I have been blessed with great teachers and everyday great teachers are still working away in the classroom. I thank all my past and future teachers because without you I would be nothing. My thoughts can be summed up best by Dan Rather, "The dream begins, most of the time, with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you on to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth."
Thank you for pushing me forward!
