HILLARY IN HIGH SCHOOL: WEEK THREE

Hillary Bernhardt
Official and unofficial teachers exist everywhere. They are people who take time to teach or show you something most people won’t. If you encounter a teacher, you must take advantage of the opportunity to learn.

Neighbors, aunts, uncles, siblings, moms, dads, grandparents, friends, ministers, acquaintances, and the ones students see everyday at school – they are all teachers.

Educators like sharing the information and experiences they have acquired from traveling through life with others. They possess passion, knowledge, and enjoy interacting with people. Most importantly, teachers act as role models, share life lessons, and answer our questions.

For me, two particular teachers from school have affected my life.

In eighth grade, I valued my English teacher’s enthusiasm for great literature and firm grasp of figurative language.

Each day, I would jump into my seat, excited to start a new lesson or project. Mrs. Humphrey inspired me that year – and helped me find my avocation for writing.

This year, I have a biology teacher, Mr. Kessler, who dedicates large amounts of time to his students and is a wealth of knowledge. He is not just a teacher but also a biologist, encouraging his students to become biologists too.

In fact, I have ventured on several biological field trips, catching snakes, newts, turtles, frogs, and lizards. Before attending this class, I disregarded science’s appeal, but now I love the learning, logic, and hands-on experiences associated with the subject.

Individually, my best teachers have pressured me to be more or do more than what I had ever attempted before. I have relished this pressure and accepted the challenges.

Each year, I see my future plans alter based on the classes in which I have taken. At this moment, I can see myself pursuing a career in journalism or biology. I have been impacted and amazed.

Today, I’m not quite sure the person I would be without people who have shared their wisdom with me, especially great teachers.