What Teachers had an impact on my Life?

While growing up in school, there were many teachers who had an impact on my Life. Just to name a few, I would start with my First grade teacher Mrs. McGee. Mrs. McGee is a wonderful, caring, and patient person. She always encourages her students to do their best. If there were any students who seemed to fall short, she would work with that student until he/she improved to where they should be.  Mrs. McGee had the whole class reading books in the First grade. Whatever we did she made sure the whole class participated in the activity. Mrs. McGee was one that never used profanity to get something done. She poured her heart and soul into that child. Mrs. McGee would say, "No matter who you are or where you come from you can always learn something." As a child, you could just feel the Love flowing to you.
As the years went on, I meet with other teachers similar to Mrs. McGee, but no one could take her place academically. My Third grade Teacher was Mrs. Griffin. Mrs. Griffin was more of a strict teacher, but I learned a lot under her teaching. Although she was strict, she had a loving and concerning spirit about her. Mrs. Griffin was a great teacher, who made sure you understood the work you were doing. It's been a long time, and I can't remember them all in the right order, but I know I became a super student because of them.
Another teacher who may have had an impact on my life would be my Sixth grade teacher Mrs. Burcate.  Mrs. Burcate, seemed to be a mean teacher at first, but once you've gotten to know her, she was nice person.  Mrs. Burcate often taught us about morals and how to treat others. I think Mrs. Burcate was a very spiritual lady. She would not allow any student to mistreat the other. She would often say, "I can't stand fast folks," meaning she did not approve of students trying to be disrespectful to teachers. Mrs. Burcate was a sincere teacher who didn't mind correcting you when you got out of place.  Unfortunately I was not one of those who got out of their place. Moving right along, my Eighth grade teacher would have made the most impact in my life.  This teacher was Mr. Straughter. Mr. Straughter was a really down to earth sort of person. He would talk to you at your level and not try to go over your head with big words so to speak.  Mr. Straughter would continually encourage his students t o put forth their best efforts. He was a very intelligent Math Teacher. Mr. Straughter often would follow your success throughout the years to see if you were keeping your grades up to part.
Before graduating from High School, I came across a few more teachers who would make a difference in my life. There is another teacher who taught me at an earlier age, and I worked with her at an older age. While working with her she would encourage me to go back to college and finish my degree in teaching. I would say to her," I don't think I would be a good teacher." She would say I think you would be a good teacher. This teacher's name is Mrs. Frizell; she has passed on since we last spoke. I am back in school now and currently in the teaching field. I just hope that I can be as great to my students as my teachers were to me.  I would say hats off to these great teachers who had an impact in my life. Sometimes when I get discourage it helps to reflect on those who believed in me the most.

Dotsy Ball
Mississippi Valley State University