My junior year in high school, I had a teacher named Miss D. for ecology. I had never been a big fan of the sciences, especially that year. First semester I had had a terrible experience with my physics teacher, who hated all the girls in the physics class, and basically told me that since I was a girl, I was stupid and could never succeed in any kind of science. Those words took away any desire that I had to take any more science classes or to go into any kind of science oriented field as an occupation.

Unfortunately, I was already scheduled to take ecology, and my advisor would not let me get out of the class, no matter how much I begged and pleaded with him. I told me that I would never take another science class again. Much to my dissatisfaction, he would not relent, and so I walked into Miss D.is class on the first day of second semester. I saw a young teacher who was piling markers and crayons on each of the lab tables, pleasantly smiling and saying hi to all the students as they walked in the door. She encouraged us to take seats wherever we felt comfortable and she told us that she hoped that she could make ecology fun for us.

That first day of ecology class, the class colored. Later in the semester, the class went on field trips to a nearby lake and stream. The class went to the zoo. We all learned ecology (and liked it too!) And through all that, I learned to trust teachers again and to enjoy myself inside the science classroom. I ended up enjoyed ecology class so much that I stayed after class and did extra work in order to gain honors credit for the class.

I built up a relationship with Miss D., and spent my study hall senior year acting as a teaching assistant for her. I was able to tell her about my bad experiences in science classes in the past and she convinced me not to give up the field entirely. I told her of my interest in psychology, but was weary of the field because I thought that I would be seen the same way as I was in the earlier physics class. Because of her encouragement, I gave psychology a shot and can walk into a lab and not be scared of being looked down on. Without Miss D.is involvement, I would never be a psychology major and would probably still hate all sciences. I think that one of the greatest things that a teacher can do is to encourage, support, and make sure that students follow through on their dreams. Miss D. not only did that, but built up my fallen self-esteem, and placed me on a track of success.

Ginny Kaufmann, American University