Enter my reading glasses giveaway which ends December 16th. Details HERE.
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Today’s guest blogger sharing his teacher memory is the amazing Chase McFadden from Some Species Eat Their Young. Chase shares another blog with Leanne Shirtliffe — Stuff Kids Write. I don’t know how I first stumbled upon Chase’s stuff, but I subscribed immediately.
I honestly get giddy when his stuff rolls in. Chase is a comic genius. He’s got like forty-two kids, and he lives on this farm where everyone is always filthy all the time. Or else they are wielding light sabres. Or trying to dig up enormous rocks. Excellent, right?
I think somebody in that family is doing laundry at all times, but I’ll bet Chase is a good sport about it. He manages to find the rainbow behind every cloud. Or the pot of gold at the foot of every rainbow. Chase probably finds the leprechaun. You know what I mean? He’s that guy with the positive outlook. You should follow him on Twitter @Chase_McFadden. Don’t forget the underscore. If you don’t get it right, you’ll be following another dude.
And that would be unfortunate. And creepy.
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If You’re Lucky
If you’re lucky, you have that one teacher during your formal education.
That teacher who genuinely believes she teaches people first, a subject second.
That teacher wise enough to realize that if you’re treated with basic human values — respect, empathy, and love – you’ll drink the Kool-Aid, no matter the flavor.
That teacher who takes a vested interest in you, outside of your ability to compose an expository essay or identify a poetic structure.
That teacher who is in the stands one Saturday when your team takes down the mighty Camels.
Luck is good.
That teacher who greets you at the door Monday morning with a smile and asks about your weekend fishing trip.
That teacher who talks less and listens more.
That teacher who you don’t want to disappoint, which is powerful, because when you’re 17 or 18 you oftentimes aren’t thinking about disappointing yourself.
That teacher who instinctively understands that disappointment is a much more meaningful motivational tool than fear and crafts relationships accordingly.
If you’re lucky, you have that one teacher during your formal education who sees strengths and aptitudes in you that you may be unable – or unwilling – to recognize in yourself.
That teacher who gives you the freedom to explore.
That teacher who asks, “What do you want to write about?”
That teacher who hands back your collection of humorous fictional stories, the stories you worked on for the better part of your senior year, with a simple note attached: These are wonderful. You’re going to have the best-written reports in your firm.
That teacher who tries not to cringe when you tell her you are going to college to study engineering.
That teacher who knows that isn’t what’s in your heart, in your soul, but encourages you just the same.
That teacher who knows there are some things a person just has to figure out for himself.
If you’re lucky, you have that one teacher during your formal education who believes in you more than you believe in yourself.
I’m lucky.
I had Ms. Watne.
What did you think you wanted to be when you were in high school? Are you doing it?
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If you have writing chops and are interested in submitting a memory about a teacher you had and can explain how that person helped you (or really screwed things up for you), as well as the life lesson you took away from the interaction, I’d love to hear from you! Contact Me. Essays should be around 700-800 words.
If you write for me, I’ll put your name on my page of favorite bloggers!
renée a. schuls-jacobson 