This past week was teacher appreciation week at our daughter’s school, which got me thinking about those teachers that had a profound impact on my life. Funny, or sad, I can only remember three of them. A geometry teacher who was a huge man, he had to have been at least seven foot tall. My homeroom teacher from a year at Catholic school, who I recall being exceptionally hot (or maybe that was just puberty). And lastly was my high school journalism teacher, the classroom I sat when the space shuttle Challenger tragedy occurred.
You can probably read between the lines and figure out that I was not a fan of school. Don't get me wrong I loved learning and still do to this day... just didn’t like the idea of being taught from a book more loved the idea of experience. "Never let schooling interfere with your education" probably best sums up my attitude to my formal education.
But my greatest and most cherished teachers, were and are my grandmother and mom. I can say without a doubt that I would not be alive without them. I don't mean that in the sappy because you gave birth to or raised me kind of way, but more so the kept me from shooting my eye out and drinking the antifreeze kind of way. Both of them were beyond patient, taught me to be curious and showed me how to experience life. When I needed a little help with encouragement – err discipline, my mom had this wooden spoon. I would not be the individual that I am today without them (or the spoon). I love them so much!
So cheers to the teachers in our lives. From the Mrs.so-in-so or a loved one or the hard knocks of experience, this apple is for you.
