A teacher that has made a difference in my life

Throughout my high school years, there have been numerous of outstanding teachers. However, there was only one teacher that stood out among the rest. This teacher's name was Mr. Davis. Everyday Mr. Davis would say "Amos, an empty wagon makes a lot of noise." Yet at the time, this statement had little or no effect on me. Everyday he made this statement, it would go in one ear and out the other. However since time has pass, I understand so well what Mr. Davis was trying to express to me.

Now in Mr. Davis class, there was nothing given to you. You had to work very hard for every good grade you got. Besides having tests and homework, Mr. Davis would give quizzes also. The person that answered the most questions would receive a prize. By doing this Mr. Davis kept the class interesting .This also gave the student the incentive to go home and study for there was no exact day that a quiz would be given.

Mr. Davis would go over and beyond measures, of not sending a student to the office. I remember on one occasion, to keep me out of the office, he put my desk beside the teacher's desk. Needless to say, I had to sit there for the rest of the school term. However, this did not stop at school. If for some reason, a student missed his class, he would call your parents or even come by your home. Also if a student was not acting up to par in class, he would also call or come by that student's home. Needless to say, my parents got a lot of regular visits from Mr. Davis. At one point, it seemed as if he was coming everyday.

Mr. Davis really cared, even though it did not seem like it at the time. He always told me that I would make a good teacher. Even after graduation, Mr. Davis would continue to come by my parent's home to check on me, and to see how I was doing in college. However, when I decided to return to school for teaching, I found Mr. Davis and told him I was changing my mind about my profession. He was so amazed and also expressed that he always knew that someday I would change my mind. Although, it seemed as if Mr. Davis was being very hard on me, I really appreciate the influence he had on my life.

April Hampton

Mississippi Valley State University