The pandemic has hit many people hard, and teachers are no exception. Despite these difficult circumstances, many teachers still show an incredible amount of passion for their students and subject. Here are just some of the ways teachers have brightened my own life and the lives of many other students:
Their passion is infectious.
One full year of isolation has taken a serious toll on our mental health. For me personally, being alone at home looking at a computer screen as a high school senior who just wants go to university has drained all my motivation. However, every class I attend is still incredibly exciting because all my teachers love their subjects so much. My History teacher’s lessons bring historical figures to life and make me feel as if I am experiencing historical events in person. My Chemistry teacher literally dances with joy when he explains concepts to us. How can I not stay motivated when my teachers make their subjects sound so interesting?
They show empathy and understanding.
Being in high school, especially in an accelerated college prep program, is a lot of work. Combined with pandemic stress, this work can feel like an impossible task. When I feel totally defeated and desperately ask my teachers if I can get an extension, they always tell me: “no worries, take a few more days, don’t worry about it”. All of my teachers are willing to push back test dates and deadlines if my class is too busy. It’s incredible that they can give us so much time when they themselves don’t have a lot of time on their hands. Even when swamped with emails and constrained by online school, teachers still have the empathy to put students first.
They’re just really good at teaching.
I’m not sure exactly how my teachers teach so well; it almost seems like magic. I would read about a concept for hours, days, even weeks, but I wouldn’t be able to understand it. Then my teachers talk about it, and I completely understand that topic. When I’m stuck at home and trying to learn from my computer screen, my teachers make this learning process way more easier. Over masked in-person classes or virtual classes, they are always willing to help and walk me through my confusion. Their experience and passion provide so much clarity.
They make you feel good about yourself.
As impossible as it sounds, the words that teachers say to you can completely change your life. When I leave high school, I’ll be pursuing a career in health sciences and biomedical research because my eighth grade science teacher told me: “you’re really good at biology, you should do it more often”. In high school, a lot of my classmates tell me that their teachers have changed their lives for the better. One of my classmates decided to take a neuroscience research program in university just because his biology teacher told him he did a good job studying for a neurobiology test. Teachers are a constant source of guidance that we should not take for granted.
Remember to appreciate your teachers!
We all get frustrated at our teachers, whether it’s for giving us low marks, or for not having enough time, or for feeling annoyed. But we can’t overlook everything our teachers have done for us during this difficult time. When they have to sift through an obscene amount of emails and deal with the frustration of online school, they still have time to help us out. So when you’re moving through school, remember to show some appreciation for your amazing teachers!