My Academic Role Model by Libby

My Academic Role Model by Libby - March 2021 Scholarship Essay

The very wise and talented author of The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger once wrote, "I like when somebody gets excited about something. It's nice". Although this is something that many of us can relate to, this is what truly drew me to my academic role model, Mrs. Scussel.
As a student in the rigorous and demanding International Baccalaureate program, it can be difficult to relax and enjoy what you're learning. Even after one year in the program, many students dropped out or lost all interest in their classes. As a student in a program that is known to burn out its students, having qualified and engaging teachers became even more important. Throughout my sophomore year, however, Mrs. Scussel, made every lesson delightful and understandable. Mrs. Scussel was my sophomore year AP Language and Composition teacher. She had a charming smile, personality, and overall outlook on life that brightened every room she entered. She encouraged regular participation from everyone in the class but did so in a way that never felt like a chore or burden. It was her very class that helped me discover my passion for reading, writing, and examining literature. Mrs. Scussel introduced me to The Catcher in the Rye, which to this day remains my favorite book! The things I learned and the memories I made in that class will last me a lifetime.
Additionally, Mrs. Scussel helped me discover a conceivable career path. She typically assigned group projects and presentations that allowed the students to not only socialize but learn more about poetry or books in a comfortable, more relaxed, setting. Within these groups, I found myself teaching my friends and peers how to track literary devices and examine the meaning behind different novels as if I was their teacher. As the year went on, my desire to present my analysis of different books and poems grew. This helped me discover my love not only for literature but also for teaching.
Mrs. Scussel, however, was more than a fun teacher, she was also an inspiring one. How she taught ensured that her students wanted to participate and explore the meaning behind books such as The Catcher in the Rye and The Bell Jar. This is very inspiring to me as a start my journey to becoming an educator myself. As a future educator, I hope that I can provide an encouraging and fun environment similar to hers that will help my students learn.