The Edge by Zealan

The Edge by Zealan - June 2021 Scholarship Essay

Surprisingly, the most influential teacher I have ever had is the teacher whom I’ve known the shortest. Mr. Edgerly was my sixth-grade, middle school English and Social Studies teacher. His class was my first period of middle school, and Mr. Edgerly made all the irrational fears and overwhelming anxiety that this new school brought, seemingly simple and uncomplicated.

Even though it has been almost six years, I still strongly remember the simply decorated classroom, beige walls, paintings hung up, and a teacher with so many incredible stories waiting to be told, that students never wanted to leave. With such an inviting atmosphere, Mr. Edgerly was able to captivate his students and taught them to not only learn but to deeply understand the material, to wonder, and to provoke questions. He deeply cared about everyone and made his classroom a place to grow. Seemingly mundane topics like civilizations in China or Mesopotamian empires were made exciting through his unforgettable passion for teaching. He influenced me to be curious and skeptical in history, he encouraged me to explore different perspectives in writing, he provided a space for his students to discover who they were and welcomed them. His class deepened my love for school as a whole and he inspired his students to strive for their dreams; which he showed were attainable. For instance, he also wanted to be an art teacher, so he went back to school to get a second minor in art so he could pursue his aspiration.

This new, incredible experience, however, was coming to an end. Towards the end of the school year, Mr. Edgerly was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer and had to go through radiation and chemotherapy treatments. However, one of the many lessons that he taught his students was to take the good from the bad. This influenced my friend and me, who both had Mr. Edgerly as a teacher, to name our softball team “Edge,” for Edgerly. After we explained who he was and what he was going through to our teammates who went to a different school, they were all immediately fond of him. We designed shirts that were sold to help fundraise and the majority of the staff and students at school wore them. It didn’t matter if some students didn’t have him as a teacher because Mr. Edergly’s infectious personality touched everyone in the community and his positive impact expanded beyond his classroom. Additionally, when it was possible, he would attend some of our softball games. His unwavering commitment to his students and passion for teaching had an immense influence on the school and community. He taught me to learn deeply, have a positive attitude, and understand that life will throw curveballs. Instead of dwelling on the negative, preserve and keep moving forward.

It is no doubt that Mr. Edgerly had a profound influence in and out of school. His tremendous fervor for teaching combined with his kindness and support ultimately made him the most memorable and influential person I’ve met. The lessons he taught inside the classroom helped me become a better person outside. Mr. Edgerly’s warm, impactful nature ultimately gave me important cutting 'edge' lessons in life.