Teaching an Influential Story

My fifth grade teacher holds the title of being the most eccentric woman I have ever met. She spoke of conspiracies, angels and alien invasions. Mrs. O. never allowed us to take our lessons at face value. Her class taught us to discover the true meaning of our lives, and never to accept an idea without questioning it. This guitar-playing bohemian had a story for everything.

One tale that she told during class has stayed with me throughout school. She recounted her experience offhandedly, and depended upon us to mold the story according to our imaginations. I carefully pictured the setting as a medieval beer hall filled with crowded wooden tables and rich food. Yet the meaningful part of this story was a small cluster of people enthusiastically conversing in a melee of linguistic dialects. Each person splattered French, Russian, German and a plethora of other tongues into the same train of thought. Although everyone at the table had different justifications for understanding their wide repertoire of languages, they all shared a common bond-- the love of using their knowledge.

While in school, this story has inspired me to strive towards joining fluctuating conversations like theirs. Through the commitment Mrs. O. has to her education, I realized that the only way to become competent in a subject is to use it frequently. My teacher's encouragement and love of knowledge have been important factors in my studies. I know that by trying my best in school and in life, I am beginning to act upon the story she recounted.

By maintaining an atmosphere of eccentricity and guidance, my teacher stimulated a passion for academics. In class she stressed not only grades, but the experience gained from studying. After sitting in her vicinity, I knew I could feel at ease using my knowledge in real life as well as in the classroom. It is important to me that the education I have gained does not just become textbook learning, but something I will use in all my endeavors.

Mrs. O.'s enthusiasm for life became a major influence on my academic career. Knowledge circulating back and forth during discussions signifies how I hope to use the information I gained in school throughout my adulthood. In addition, her free-spirited classroom opened doors allowing me to obtain a sound academic record in the future. Floating around my teacher's eclectic table of friends is what I want to achieve most in my life.

-- Jackie