The
first cardinal rule of teaching is to encourage and inspire. Kids need to KNOW that they are worth
something, capable of anything. When I think about the role my past teachers
played in my life, I realize the greatest impact was their confidence in me.
From that I learned to have confidence in my abilities too. This past summer I
spent it in Washington D.C. working alongside a man I now fondly consider my
“adopted uncle.” While D.C. is a big and scary world full of people trying to
prove themselves, Mr. F continued to speak encouragement into my heart. When I
handed in a written brief and was terrified that it would not be good enough,
Mr. F beamed with confidence in my abilities and intelligence. That, for me, is
a true educator. It’s not about number facts or reading levels, it’s about
reminding the children how amazing they are and encouraging them to find that
truth within themselves. From his encouragement and assurance, I too began to
feel confident in my abilities to be a policymaker and a force to be reckoned
with. This great educator made a tremendous impact in the way I viewed my place
in this world.
I scored
a 1,000 on my SATs and not much better on my ACTs. I was rejected from Cornell
and Georgetown. I graduated from American with a 3.17 GPA and nothing more to
show for my time there. Before now, I felt insignificant in the world. I
thought what I had to offer was nothing spectacular. This lack of effort reflected
the inability to see my special and unique place in this world. It wasn’t until someone I respected and
admired encouraged me to see the special qualities I embodied, that I began to
see my future differently. I wonder, do my students admire and respect me? When
I share my confidence and encourage them, does it plant a seed too?
One of my favorite quotes is from Henry Brooks Adams when
he said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence
stops.” Mr. F changed the fabric of my eternity. His encouragement inspired me
to reach higher, dream bigger and never stop being extraordinary. His immense
knowledge made me a more refined educator and policymaker.
I want to be a teacher like him. I want to change my
students’ eternities.
As I begin the application process to Harvard and
Columbia, and as those thoughts of not being important or special enough creep
up on me, I am reminded of the confidence that my dear friend Mr. F has in my
passion for education and my abilities. If he believes in me, than I believe in
me. Every student should have a teacher
who believes that they are capable of amazing things. Every child was built
with extraordinary qualities, and I will spend the rest of my education career
reminding them of that everyday. William Arthur Ward once wrote, “the mediocre
teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires.” Mr. F you are definitely a great one!
**Mr. Duncan, test scores don’t
define a teacher. If you want a true evaluation contact ALL the students they
have ever taught and hear the amazing testimonies. This will definitely shed
light on whether a teacher has made a life-altering impact. Thank you Mr. Kolodinski,
Mr. Reck, Mr. Dover and so many other teachers who inspired me to go to
college, become a teacher, and strive for excellence. It wasn’t the tests scores that made you one
of the greats; it was your encouragement and ability to inspire my heart.
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