It takes a great person with an even greater heart to make a profound impression on a young person these days. Society is filled with numerous expectations, influencing and eventually intoxicating those who are young and vulnerable to its many demands. Children are remarkable little people, for they are like sponges--absorbing everything they see, and everything everyone around them does. They learn from others' triumphs and failures, while hoping to become their own person--hoping to embrace their individuality. It was not until my Junior year in high school when everything began to make sense. I was born a leader, not a follower, and it was Mr. M. (or Coach Mac as we all called him) my A.P. U.S. History teacher who allowed me to embrace what was my own--and soar.

     Going by society's standards, it is the general rule that people judge each other by outward appearance, and then concentrate on intellect. Well, Mr. M's outward appearance certainly had a huge impact on me. As if it were yesterday, I can recall the first day of my Junior year, and it was just my luck that I had Coach Mac first period. With my stomach in knots, my heart racing, and sweaty palms I literally ran to his classroom (punctuality being a pet peeve of his), not knowing what to expect.

     His voice boomed across the classroom, clear and powerful--never faltering. I'll never forget that voice, or the way he carried himself. He spoke with such passion, something I had never heard come across so clearly in a teacher. His eyes danced with eagerness as he described to us each new concept in as vivid detail as possible. From Jamestown to the Vietnam War, Coach Mac never lost his enthusiasm, for it grew stronger as time passed, and the Fall term quickly turned to Spring. When the national exam neared he worked our fingers and mind to the bone, and yet my classmates and I read on with more fervor--turning the leaves in our heavy yellow text books, anxious to absorb everything. We were hungry for knowledge, and Mr. M. not only supplied us with a fantastic education, but he prepared us for life as well. Sure, he taught United States History, but Mr. M. also taught me what it meant to do a job well--and to be proud of yourself. Was this a man to be feared, as so many students before me had said? No, this was a man to be loved, admired, and inspired by.

     Time passed by so quickly in his classroom. There was never a need to look at your watch or the clock on the wall, for Coach Mac was like a magnet: he captured your attention and held it there--firm in his grasp and in his control. He molded our young minds not only to see the words, dates, and places in our history books--but allowed us to see what lies beyond them.

     I'll never forget my first graded assignment and how I dreaded to get it back. How was I to measure up to a college level class only being sixteen? How could I meet his expectations? Did I do the assignment right? Was I intelligent enough to handle this class? With all my fears building up inside, Mr. M. extinguished them immediately. Standing before us, Coach Mac simply stated: "History is not just based on fact, but is also based on interpretation." When I heard those words, I beamed. The first building block of self-confidence and reassurance in myself and my ability to do a job well was fused together--never to separate from each other.

     Usually teachers show you your intelligence through good grades, praise, and approval upon answering a question correctly, but Coach Mac did more than just that. Although Mr. M's words of praise were few and far between, and his smiles and laughter rare, every time one stepped into his classroom, I could actually feel my own intelligence and self-confidence growing. That was my praise--that was my reward.

          It takes a great person with an even greater heart to make a profound impression on a young person these days. Mr. M., through hard work and tough love proved to me to be that great person. Above his chalkboard it stated in large quotation marks: "Our greatest resources are the minds of our children." It is because of Coach Mac's profound impact on my young life, that I have the self-confidence to know that I am capable of living up to his final expectation--to be that "Great Resource"--to be the future.

Laura M. Berkey, American University