One of a kind
Yes.
She is one of a kind. She is a kind of teacher that you never want at first and
then you realize how lucky you are to have her as your teacher later. She is my
middle school English teacher. I still vividly remember how dead I was inside
every time I had a class with her. I thought I would get over the bad feeling
as the time went on but no. If you asked me what the most difficult subject in
school was, I would have said English. I would have laughed at your face if you
said “One day, writing in English is something you do it for fun.” But, look
where I am now. It all thanks to my teacher, the greatest teacher who came in
disguise.
It all
started like this. I came into English class like other students did. I thought
the teacher looked pretty intimidating. My best friend leaned over to me and
said “Our life is in hell”. I raised my eyebrow to her which means “What you mean? School year just started!” She said, “She is the horrible English teacher
everyone is talking about.” I just shrugged. It was actually no big deal
because I behaved in class. The reason I behaved in class is that my mother who
is also a teacher and she always complained how life would be easier if kids
showed some manners in class. I showed teachers respect and pretended to listen
even though sometimes, I was bored as hell. So, I had a confidence that I won’t
get on her nerves. “Oh boy! How wrong I was.”
I swear I didn’t do anything wrong.
But as time went by, every difficult question was for me. Whenever she had
every brain wrecking questions, she would look at me, expecting I would have
some good answers. If she gave homework, I did every single piece of them
because I didn’t dare to risk my life. I knew for sure she was going to ask my
answers for homework if kids in class couldn’t come up with answers. I liked
that the way she put the light on me as if I was some kind of hero but man she
made it so hard. She would never humiliate me if my answer was wrong but I wanted
to give the right answer so that I could still look like a cool, smart kid. So,
there was no choice for me but to study hard. I was sick of English because I
had to study almost all the time.
You couldn’t imagine how happy I
was on the last day of class. I couldn’t wait to get rid of this English class.
I was on 9th cloud. I didn’t know that the storm was coming. All I knew
is dug my own grave and died peacefully when my mother said she would enrolled
me in after school English class because she thought I started to like English
subject very much because of the teacher. “Another year with that teacher? Let
me die please!” I screamed mentally. I wonder why my first language isn’t
English. If it is my mother tongue, then I didn’t have to deal with that kind
of crap.
At first, there were so many
students in class. But after a month, there are only a few students left who
are somewhat smart or who couldn’t persuade their parents to deregister the
class. So, these poor fellers like me stuck together in hell. One day, I asked
my teacher, “Teacher, I think this exercise is too advanced for my level.” She
said, “It really is.” I was hoping from her some kind of explanation to make
these exercises easier but her expression said it is done. Do it now. I was upset. I felt like it was unfair. I
remember I did so many mistakes on that exercise because I knew that these
exercises are advanced so I didn’t even think about the answers twice. I don’t care. It is unfair. It doesn’t
deserve the effort. That was what I thought. When the class was over, she
just came to my desk and said, “You might be feeling like it was unfair. I know
I pushed you too far because I saw the potential in you that you didn’t
notice.”
Well, those words made me feel good
even though I didn’t believe any of them. However, I had to admit those words
affected me subtly. I willingly played
along when she pushed my limit. Not just in English, I took challenges in other
subjects, believing I could do that. Even in life, I challenged myself,
believing I had a capability and there was a possibility. But, she was still a
horrible teacher to me because I was too young to notice that she changed my
life: she boosted my mental ability and self-confidence. I didn’t realize that
I was improving my challenging myself.
I was kind of glad that I didn’t have to deal
with anymore because I was high school student and she was middle school
teacher. I graduated high school with a very good score and accepted from top
university in my country. She congratulated me and said, “Told you so. You have
potential.” I didn’t see her as terrible teacher anymore. I was glad that she
was my teacher but the thought “she
changed my life” never appears in my brain. Honestly, that thought didn’t
occur to me until I was chosen for the Ugrad Scholarship Program.
To study in the United States is my
dream. But, I thought it was just a dream because my parents were not rich
enough to support me. While I was studying in my country university, I started
to know the word “Scholarship”. I decided to give it a try. That is the spirit
that she put into my vein. Here I am now! In my university (USA) dormitory,
writing this story on my computer. At the age of 19, I could manage to come to
America, my dream country, to study with fully funded scholarship. All I want
to do now is give her a call and thank her for transforming the way I think but
it’s too late. She passed away when I was in college (my country). However, I
believe she is now looking down at me from heaven with a cocky, content smile
on her face which means “Told you so. You have potential.”
