The Profound Influence of Teachers: A Personal Journey

Growing up with a mother who is a teacher felt like growing up with a rockstar. During my early years, it seemed that everywhere we went, someone would recognize my mom as their teacher. Knowing that so many people knew my mother made me proud.

However, as I grew older, I began hearing my friends share stories about how my mom had been their teacher. It became a common occurrence, and it started to wear on me. It wasn't that I was ashamed of my mom; it was the sheer number of classmates who would discover that my mother had taught them in kindergarten.

What I realized later was that it wasn't just about my mother being their teacher; it was about the positive impact she had on them.

I had a similar experience with my high school biology teacher, Miss Watley. She not only taught biology but also inspired me to pursue it as my college major. After my first year of college, she was the only teacher I sought out to share my academic achievements with because of the profound impact she had on my life.

Over a decade later, during my time as an adjunct professor from 2004 to 2009, I had hundreds of students, but one student stood out. She maintained contact with me over the years and eventually told me she was returning to school to become a teacher herself. While I can't say for certain that my influence played a role in her decision, it warmed my heart to know that I had made an impact.

In school, you encounter two types of people: those who teach and those who are true teachers. The former provide information to help you move forward, while the latter are there to leave a lasting impact. If you're fortunate to have a teacher who is dedicated to impacting your life, consider yourself lucky. Even though Miss Watley has passed away, I still consider her the main source of inspiration for my journey.

In this life, you only need one exceptional teacher to shape your path for the rest of your life.

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