A Mentor or Teacher who had an impact
There have been many teachers who have had an impact on me, but most probably has no idea of what they did for me. That differentiates a teacher from a mentor, at least for me. Therefore the first teacher that I can recall that way was my government teacher in the twelfth grade. I had always loved my history classes but never really had a close relationship with a teacher until this class. The first day, Mr. G. was asking lots of questions and nobody was willing to answer. I was sitting in the back, contemplating this new young teacher. Something in his desperate face touched my sixteen year old heart, because I tentatively raised my hand to bail him out. His arm lunged out to call on me like a man grabbing a life preserver. The next day, I was moved to the front of the class. Mr. G. took the time to inquire what my interests were, what my plans included, and listened. Soon, he was recommending books to me at a fast clip. I read everyone, even Darkness at Noon, which was so depressing for a lively teen age girl to read, but it shaped my world views that lasted until this day. Some books I absolutely hated, such as the Vonnegut selections, but I understand now what he was trying to do, stretching my intellectual interests. He was even shouting out a book title as I was walking away from graduation ceremonies! He was skeptical about my desire to be a high school history teacher, but he helped me whenever I asked for recommendations. He didn’t realize that HE was my model, he was my hero of history.
Flash forward fifteen years, to a the outside office of the principal of my high school. There I sat, nervously waiting for an interview for a job. I had stayed out of the workforce until my youngest child was in school, so this was to be my first teaching job. In walked Mr. G, a little grayer, a little balder, but something so comforting and familiar on such a day! We were so glad to see each other, and of course he was mightily interested as to why I was there. I got the job, and I learned later that Mr. G. lobbied vehemently to be hired. There were political cross currents roiling about me between superintendent and principal, but my mentor, my advocate never stopped arguing that I was the best candidate.
I would work alongside him for then next sixteen years until he retired. Along the way, he counseled me, laughed with me, encouraged and sometimes commiserated with me. He even still recommended more books! He taught all three of my children. After a very troubling time in my life, he proclaimed that not only had I survived it, I was looked “youthful and effervescent!” Few compliments do I treasure more. Today I teach in his former position, as senior government teacher. I miss having him jostling me in the hall, saying, how’s it going kid, as if I were 17, not 50, but our relationship stands longer than many, as it evolved from teacher to mentor to colleague to friend.
