A teacher, A Mother, and A Mentor by Gracelyn

A teacher, A Mother, and A Mentor by Gracelyn - July 2014 Scholarship Essay

A teacher who has definitely positively affected my attitude toward education, would be my high school math teacher Ms. Nashid. She was by far the hardest teacher I have ever had. Ms. Nashid took her job as an educator and her role as a mother very seriously. Most of the time those positions became one. Ms. Nashid would not only make sure that I understood the in class curriculum, she also made sure that I understood the world around me. I have had countless conversations with her about the “adult” world. She helped me understand that without an education, this life would be a lot harder. She also encouraged me to keep going during the difficult times. She often told me, “Quitting won’t benefit anyone except those who want to see you fail” and that still keeps me going today.

As I further my education, I often fall upon discouraging times. Whether due to stress, academia or emotional reasons; I remember those two key lessons. I know that without furthering my education, my life would be more difficult and I know that if I quit I will in no way be benefitting myself. With these two lessons I happily push on through my struggles as I have been since I was introduced to her. Ms. Nashid has been more than a math teacher; she is a mentor and a mother. I thank her all the time for her positive influence.