A Lifelong Lesson by Gabriella

A Lifelong Lesson by Gabriella - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

He became emotional and even started crying as he spoke to us about things he cared about. Although this may have been a shocking experience for some to witness, this was a normal day in my class to see my teacher cry… and me as well.

Religion of the Mayans. Genocide. History of the aboriginals of Australia. These are common lessons taught at high school history classes around the country. However, when my teacher taught us about these topics, it was real, intriguing and broke the stereotype of a typical history class -- pulling at emotions. As much of an impact these lessons had on me, the most essential lesson that I learned was not about people who lived thousands of miles away from me or thousands of years before me, instead what I gained was much more personal and emotional. His lessons took more than a 90-minute period and a quick PowerPoint to teach.

Going into my first AP class, I was intimidated by the rigor of AP World History compared to my previous classes. Before I took this class, I only cared about the letter grade rather than the true quality of my education. I had a narrow-minded plan that consisted of just doing well in school, going to college, and getting a job to make a lot of money. I never questioned my view or why I had this goal because it seemed like it was normal.

On the first day of my world history class my teacher pointed out a poster on his wall that read “Education is National Security.” He explained to us why he teaches, and that he believes the education of students, like myself, is the true future. This idea seems so obvious to me now but was astonishing to me at the time. Through the rest of the year in that class, my teacher continued to teach us in ways that engaged everyone. We had class discussions regularly, and instead of standing in front of us, controlling the discussion, my teacher sat among us. We all shared our thoughts and respected each other's opinions. As the year went on, I found the class becoming less difficult. I realized that I was enjoying learning about world history even if I had homework every night. In fact, I found myself enjoying all of my classes and not just doing work out of pressure, but because I truly wanted to learn more about the world.

The next year, I had the same teacher for World Religions, and I also joined my school's Model UN club that was organized by that same teacher. World Religions was even more eye opening than World History, and in that class, I built on the realizations I made before. During this time, a Board of Education law in my county that was unfair to students arose and was not communicated to students or parents. My teacher was a main advocate speaking out against it which informed parents about this law. Through his actions, I saw another example of how one person can make a difference. In Model UN, I noticed the abilities and hope in students, and I saw the dedication we have whether that be in UN simulations or fundraisers for the community. One particular moment that sticks out was when the club had a free showing of He Named Me Malala in the school's auditorium. At least 70 students and teachers showed up to watch and afterwards stayed for a discussion. In that emotional yet significant discussion, a common theme was discussed about being able to make a difference in the world. This was a moment when I looked at myself differently.

Through his heartfelt lessons, I realize today that I don't have a desire to get just an accolade, instead I found out that I’m actually interested in what I'm learning. I discovered that I have the power to change someone's life in a positive way, and that a sufficient education is only half of what is needed to make a difference, the other half being dedication, drive, and hope. My teacher helped me discover that I have a desire to solve humanitarian problems that we face today and that we will face in the future. I learned that my peers and I are the future, and that is the reason I should be working so hard. I no longer can complain about somebody not fixing the problems that exist in my life and in the world in general. Realizing I am somebody who can make a difference places a lot of responsibility on my shoulders yet it also motivates me to do my best.

My teacher taught us with passion and dedication in a way that showed us something about ourselves. He demonstrated through action how much he cared for his students and their education, and he modeled how one person can help others, like he helped us. His lesson rests with me today and is now my reason for why I work hard