What is the most important lesson you've ever learned from a teacher? by Bailey

What is the most important lesson you've ever learned from a teacher? by Bailey - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

Looking back on my favorite teachers from pre-school all the way through to university, the common trait that stands out most clearly is the way they championed independent learning. Amongst the endless monotony of copying notes from the board and filling in the blanks on worksheets, tasks where I had to reason my way to the answer were an exciting and welcome challenge. This skill of independent thought has been my most valuable tool throughout my education, and discovering its importance is the most important lesson I have been taught.
From a practical point of view, learning the value of understanding over memorizing has made me a better student in all subjects and is a skill that has been equally useful outside the classroom. As someone who has always struggled with rote learning, projects that relied on independent thinking and initiative gave me the opportunity to fully demonstrate my strengths and, most importantly, helped me to realize that my hatred of memorization did not preclude a passionate love of learning. The value of having to work things out for myself is a lesson I have learned again and again from each of my favorite teachers. Now, as I begin to undertake a masters in education I aim to show my students the importance of independent learning, and to continue to learn from them.