The Teacher by Charith

The Teacher by Charith - June 2021 Scholarship Essay

Teachers. Who are they? Throughout our lives, we have many teachers, each different from the last. The best teachers, however, connect with us, understand us, and, ultimately, influence us to be better. The most influential teacher I've had would be my high school chem teacher, Mr. Zinovchik.
Why is he any different than the countless others? I could've chosen my Mom, who was there when I was just a baby, crawling around; who, when I couldn't walk, was there to support me as I stumbled along. I could've chosen my Dad, who helped me ride my first bicycle; who, when I fell and bruised my knee, helped me get back up and pushed me to try again. Instead, I chose someone else, who's teaching impacts me every day. Rather than simply teaching chemistry, Mr. Z. taught me the importance of self-confidence. He always said, "Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong."

I would love to say that I follow the quote perfectly, that I am unafraid of making mistakes. However, the statement, though simple to understand, is quite difficult to execute. Nonetheless, the message conveyed by the words became embedded in my mind. Subconsciously, I refer back to his words for assurance that it is okay to fail.

Take, for example, a common fear: public speaking. Why is it soo tough to speak in front of an audience? Why does your throat suddenly become dry, the lines you've spent hours memorizing precipitate from your mind? If we are confident in ourselves, why can't we speak out? It's the fear associated with the task. According to my teacher, we should be fearless in our actions, regardless of their "correctness." Yet, how is it possible to not be afraid of failing? It's an inherent trait that is challenging to overcome. Even so, I try. Whenever I am presenting to an audience, I try to be confident in myself. Even when I don't feel confident, I try to appear confident, always remembering my teacher's quote. His words serve as a safety net that helps me realign myself with my goals. Unlike the teachers who come and go, Mr. Zinovchik and his influence stayed. His words became more than life, always resonating within me as I continue to learn. Mr. Zinovchik wasn't just another teacher who taught me something new; instead, he was the teacher who encouraged me to become something new: confident.