The Rhode to Youth Empowerment & Success by Nychol

The Rhode to Youth Empowerment & Success by Nychol - July 2014 Scholarship Essay

There is one teacher who I hope to never forget…Mr. Rhodes. He was my Algebra and Geometry teacher in high school. He was probably one of the youngest teachers at the school. But what was great about him, other than his adorable curly hair and boyishly handsome looks, was that he didn’t try to relate to his students. He simply just did. He was kind and easy-going and never made us feel like we were inferior because we were the student. He smiled, laughed and made jokes.

I remember when my mother came in for ‘back to school night’. He told my mother “I don’t know how she does it. She solves problems without solving her work on paper.” But it was because of his teaching methods that I felt comfortable and at ease in his class. Yes, some of the talent was my own and I just happened to be good at math. But it was him who made math my favorite subject. I got A’s in both of his classes. He also wrote me a kind note during my senior class retreat and the most excellent letter of recommendation for my college applications.

It is important to have teachers like him. It is the teacher’s responsibility to not only provide the student with the knowledge they need to successfully complete their class and prepare them for college and their future, but to also promote self-confidence and inspire the sensitive and impressionable student to do something wonderful with their gifts and the knowledge they’ve obtained. It is because of teachers like him that students go on to want to become teachers. And that is exactly what he did for me. I have been working in the educational system for the last 4 years, and I have no plans on slowing down anytime soon. I am also working on finishing my second Master’s degree and establishing a non-profit organization that assists youth in at-risk environments.

Thank you Mr. Rhodes. You are an inspiration. You are beautiful inside and out. And I promise to pay forward the kindness that you showed me by continuing my efforts to empower our youth and their future success.