It’s hard to think of where I’d be if it weren’t for the teachers who have inspired me throughout my life. I have countless relatives and friends who are educators, and I’ve always wondered what exactly it is inside them that pushes them into a life dedicated to passing on their knowledge to others. I know that there’s bad teachers who are just in it for the perks of teaching, but they are few and far between. A good teacher — the right teacher — changes lives. I know this from experience. Sometimes it’s just a little affirmation, someone telling you that you are indeed good at this. Sometimes it’s simply being there for a kid through a tough time. It’s more than a job, and I think it’s also more than a career, it’s a way of life. There are simply some people out there who have to teach.
My mom is a teacher, and she retired from teaching this week. I know that she will continue teaching in so many different ways; it’s something that’s inside you and it doesn’t just go away. Anyways, Mom and Dad are going globetrotting this summer to mark her retirement. They’re going to Japan, then New Zeland, and then Australia, all before October. She taught at the same school for decades, and I know how much of herself she’s put into her students. I know how much I’ve learned from her, how much I’m still learning from her. She’s even going to help me with another quilt.
I want to write a lovely, beautiful piece about how great I think teachers are, but I’m finding that I’m at a loss for words. Anyways, just be sure to appreciate the teachers in your life. You wouldn’t be who you were without them.
