The Greatest Teacher by Annette

The Greatest Teacher by Annette - June 2021 Scholarship Essay

It was a Friday afternoon and my second grade class was watching a Bill Nye science video. I hadn’t been feeling well all day and tried to use this time to secretly take a nap. About 12 minutes into the video I was rudely woken up by a sharp pain in my stomach and I knew I was about to be sick. I ran to the trash can but before I could make it, the yellow-green vomit projectiles out of my mouth and onto the floor. As you could imagine, this created quite a scene from my second grade peers and the classroom was instantaneously filled with gasps, laughter, and looks of worry and confusion. My teacher, Mrs. Haley, quickly came to my side and took me to the restroom to get me cleaned up. Tears of embarrassment welled up in my eyes as I stood in the bathroom while Mrs. Haley tried her best to clean up my uniform. Seeing my distress, she immediately surpassed her role as a second grade teacher and comforted me with a motherly tone. Mrs. Haley’s ability to adapt to each and every student's needs and the way she loved her students regardless of the situation is what makes her the most influential teacher I’ve ever had.

Oftentimes when we think of a teacher, there is a traditional image that comes to mind: a person in charge of teaching a group of students the learning objectives on a syllabus. This indeed is what being a teacher fundamentally comes down to. What makes a teacher stand out in a unique way, such as my second grade teacher Mrs. Haley, is how they’re able to connect with their students on a more profound level. Mrs. Haley was able to satisfy the requirements of a teaching job while going above and beyond to create a space for her students that was nurturing and one that allowed for growth inside and outside the classroom. For example, instead of responding to my vomiting experience with annoyance, anger, or disgust, Mrs. Haley showed compassion, love, and care. She would show up to every single school choir performance (held after school hours and not required for teachers to attend) and greet her students with the warmest smile. She personally funded countless class parties to show her love and care for us. When one of our classmate’s mother unexpectedly passed away during the school year, she delicately explained the situation and taught us how to love and care for our friend. Mrs. Haley’s teaching exceeded the lessons taught through books and worksheets- her actions taught me valuable life lessons that I still utilize today.

As a second grader, I already knew Mrs. Haley was one of my favorite teachers. She was kind, welcoming, had a colorful classroom, and was always stocked up on delicious treats and goodies. Looking back, almost 14 years later, I truly understand and deeply appreciate the sacrifices, love, and keen attention to detail she showed to all of her students. She was more than just a teacher. She was a friend, mentor, supporter, motherly figure, and inspiration. From her I learned that patience, love, and understanding can go a long way and change a person’s life. Second grade is not typically considered a major formative year in the grand scheme of a person's life. However for me, my second grade year was filled with joy, learning, unexpected vomit, and a teacher that positively influenced my life forever.