The Teacher Who Changed My High School Career by Whitley

The Teacher Who Changed My High School Career by Whitley - July 2014 Scholarship Essay

Hearing your alarm go off can be one of the worst sounds known to man sometimes. That alarm means early mornings, busy work throughout the day, and homework piles all night. For many years of my educational career I found myself going through the motions, as I’m sure many others do as well. Some teachers could crack a smile from me every once and some even caught my attention for more than ten minute increments. It wasn't until my freshmen year of high school that I had a teacher so passionate and excited to give to his classrooms that my attitude about education completely changed.

English has always been my strong suit. It’s never been hard for me to keep my eyes open through a literature lecture or a grammar rules lesson. However, my freshmen year of English I discovered there was a big difference between listening and being completely engaged. My English teacher never failed to walk into the room with a warm smile, kind tone, and a plan that kept us all excited about class. He had a way of getting us to finish all of the required coursework, but also educate us about things much bigger than just the material at hand. He was a teacher that didn't just care if we were getting A’s, or B’s. He saw us as more than another letter grade or written essay. He was a teacher that I could go to for anything. Whether it be a quick question about our assignment, some advice on which classes to take my sophomore year, or even to chat when there was something on my mind. He was always willing to help a student out as best as he could. No matter what it was that a student asked, he could turn a question into a lesson we could carry with us through more than just our year with him in English. He created a safe and inviting atmosphere in his classroom that reminded me that teachers truly do care about more than just attendance and assignments.

Throughout my freshmen English class, my teacher taught me life lessons that I carry with me through my everyday life. He taught me the importance of not only learning in school, but to also carry an attitude filled with integrity, honesty, and excitement. He is a teacher that I continue to reflect on when I need a little pick me up before school and his voice never fails to speak to me when I need kind, encouraging, or caring words. Not only was he my freshmen English teacher, but he was someone who affected my attitude toward education so greatly that today as a Senior I can still say that he has played one of the biggest roles in how I chose to carry myself throughout my high school career.