Teachers and/or professors can have a profound impact on your life. If you’ve ever had an amazing teacher, you know what we’re talking about.
Sometimes these teachers or professors come into your life unexpectedly… perhaps you didn’t even know you had an interest in that subject until you were partnered with the right teacher.
Did you ever have a teacher who significantly changed your life? If so, can you tell us about them in the comments below? What was so special about them and what subject did they teach? We’re curious!
Grade 6: English teacher who gave Zeros for wrong verb tenses or run-on sentences. Definitely sharpened my verbal and written grammar skills. College freshman: male Ed Psych prof who strapped on a breastfeeding vest, “nursed” his own infant while lecturing about the benefits of breastfeeding. College Junior: maternal and child health prof who sold me on obstetrical nursing as a specialty choice. All life altering.
Oh, How life is changed, But GOD has grace.
Fifth grade teacher who insured that I could write well and college professor who encouraged me to go on to law school….
I had a beloved first grade teacher who overheard me telling my older sister that I could read better than her. My teacher said she didn’t like people who bragged on themselves. Fifty years later, I still don’t brag.
Best teacher I had was a retired F4 jet fighter who became my boss mid-career. Anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Fifth grade art teacher took me under her wing and let me stay after school practicing and working on a chalk and pastel drawing of the conquistador Balboa. I won first prize and received the affirmation I needed to make art and photography my life.
Cool story, Nanci. Thanks! 😀 –Diane
Yes, my own mom! And I had a class with her in high school, although that was a bit awkward socially.
My physics teacher. A wonderful smart man that I will never forget.
I graduated high school in 1969. Of all of my teachers, I only remember Mr. Brown from my biology class, and Mr. Yertza from my algebra class, both at Fresno High School. They both made learning enjoyable.
High school English, Mr Weiloh. He guided me when I felt alone, the outsider, and being abused. He helped me to journal and help myself through words. We stayed in touch for years after my graduation. He was more than just a teacher. He cared and noticed his students and cared about them. I still journal to this day.
I had two teachers that significantly altered my life – one in high school and one in college
Chemistry/physics in high school!
We were forced to take a typing class which I hated. Years later I could type my reports, without mistake, faster than anyone I worked with. Then I realized that typing class taught me the basics that payed off later in life.
They all did.
None did.
Yes we did; We were “The Jock’s” but we had a Gentleman who had to look up to us but he believe in us & also, did not hesitate to give most of us “The Strap” when we deserved it. But all of us did good in our respective professions & lead Healthy lives!! Yep; DH we all Smile now. You were the influence on all us to be Dad’s & to be Guys!!
Had a couple of math teachers help head off to a 30+ year career teaching high school math; had a Navy vet influence me to begin & complete a 25 year military career & watched the ag teacher who knew nothing about farming act as an example of what not to do when I was dairy farming along with wheat, corn & soybeans. I hope that during my years of teaching I had a positive impact on someone.
Learned how to gas weld in a high school art class. A life skill as far as I was concerned. Still remember his name, Barry Sweeney.
My English teacher in my last year of high school helped me after graduation. Before that I had developed an attitude since 5th grade that hurt me. I wrongly figured that I had learned enough English to read and write and was determined not to ever waste my time studying it anymore. My grades in that were average at best. Miss Whittle had warned me that college would be very difficult.
Then I was accepted in an Engineering college because of my strong math/science grades. On campus, I soon realized that my writing was far below that of others. I had to keep a dictionary and thesaurus handy to read and write.
At a later HS visit, she gave me books which greatly helped me. She cared!
Carman Delaquadry and Billy Barstow. Michigan Technological University School of Business. Carman taught labor relations and Billy taught introductory business law. Both had side practice as labor dispute mediators. Both concentrated on how the academic basics were applied in real life situations. While my career and life ranged much broader than those topics, what I learned there was a solid foundation that I used many times over. And still do in retirement.
Mrs. Potts came to our hillbilly, redneck high school in time to be my junior and senior English teacher. She expected preparation and engagement. She was an exception in a school indifferent to academics and determined to excel athletically despite routinely failing to win. Later, in graduate school, I had a professor who taught a research methods course. In the context of the course, he highlighted the degree to which attire conveys professionalism, maturity, and attitude. It was a lesson that took. Although I lost touch with the professor after graduation, my English teacher became life-long friends. Both enriched my life, probably far more than I know. 🙂
Great comment Neal! I feel the same.
Yes I did. Mr Parker was such an influence in my life. Just a few principles he taught me. Above all else, practice integrity. Without integrity you will fail. He also said something that has stayed with me ever since. “Success is not what you are. Success is what you could be compared to what you are!”. That statement has always challenged and encouraged me to be all that I could be. He also asked, “what would you like to be remembered as”?
Actually, I had two. One in the 5th grade that was a super negative and a jr high coach that was a positive.
Mrs. Coughlin, 2nd grade. She strongly encouraged reading, had a ‘# of books read’ contest. I’ve loved reading ever since (I’m now 77), and got my journalism degree later. I had the opportunity to visit her 12 years later when I was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground in MD. She appreciated it immensely and we were both in tears when our visit was over.
I had two as well. Mr. Warren who taught business law and Mr. Dobbins who was my World Affairs teacher. Then there was a third too: Mr. Hiller taught current affairs at my Junior High School. They all kept us engaged and interested. I learned much about Viet Nam and Southeast Asia as well as other countries in turmoil at the time.
A slightly crazy mentor for my physician assistant program…worked in geriatrics and psych with me during my rotation. fabulous attitude and challenging to the mind, the best !
I had a history teacher in High School, Mr. Anelli. He had a very easy going, manner. Never flustered. I picked up a love for history from him, as did many of my classmates, and copied his laid back mannerisms. That laid back manner worked well for me in my career. He has passed away, but I was able to write him a letter before he died telling him how much I appreciated his influence.
Mr. Brown drove a 67 SS Camaro and that was that.
I had a teacher in high school who noticed a talent I had displayed. He asked if I was planning to attend college and if so, what my major would be. I told him and he recommended I choose a major that matched my talents. And there came a time in my college studies I lost interest which was reflected in my grades. So, I switched and majored in my high school teacher’s recommendation and graduated with honors. As I look back on my education and career now retired, I never dreamed being so successful.
I never liked school. Why I’m not sure. I do know I didn’t like the 3rd grade teacher. I didn’t get along with her at all. I was having trouble with reading in the 6th grade so the the teacher would make me get in front of the class to read. That was painful and embarrassing for me. School was not good. Come to think of it, those two did change my life.
Miss Moody, 10th grade English teacher. She wore the same blue dress with small white elephants on it for what seemed like weeks on end. 😊 She called me aside one day and showed me the results of the then statewide standard “skills assessment” exam. She told me that my school performance was far below my potential as shown in the exam results. That short conversation improved my self-confidence and I went on to earn BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering.
Yes, actually three, 1 in middle school, 1 in high school, and 1 in college. The first was my middle school math teacher that recognized that math was easy for me therefore I was bored with the class and getting into trouble. The second was my high school physics teacher that kept challenging me by giving me special projects. The third was my senior college electrical engineering professor that gave me almost free range designing new at the time logic control technology and solving real world system control issues.
Wow. back in HS I had a coach / teacher, who taught health and fitness. I always admired how he stayed in shape and controlled the class in exercise, routine and discipline.
This was in the Mojave Desert in the early 70s,
Now, in Memphis 2015, I am riding my bike at a local RV park, and spy this fellow, walking with his wife. Can’t believe it. Coach Belote! We had a great visit, he said,” I made an old man happy”.
We now stay in touch emailing.