In Praise of Teachers

My writing companions and I kicked off this week by reflecting on someone from our lives who first believed in us as writers. It was moving to witness how we all had answers at the ready—spouses, parents, ourselves (yeah!), friends and relatives, and in many instances, teachers.

And not just teachers in general. Many of us could immediately recall specific teachers’ names, what grades they taught us, and the various instances in which they encouraged the fledgling writers we would someday become.

In my case, there was Mr. Baumgartner in grade three, who helped me push past my need to play it safe. Ms. MacLeod in grade nine, who wrote on my report card that God gives everyone a gift, and mine was the written word. The incomparable Mr. Lavery in grade twelve, who actually refused to tell me I could write. Instead, he planted himself in front of my desk, stared me square in the eyes as the bell rang and the room emptied out, and refused to relent until, cheeks flaming and voice shaking, I declared it aloud for myself.

Though I spent decades pursuing other paths, unconvinced I had what it took to someday call myself a Writer, these teachers’ votes of confidence never left me. I didn’t seriously consider giving this writing thing a proper go until age 36, but at that point the first thing I did was go straight to the yellow envelope filled with report cards. Proof they had seen something I couldn’t.

In the years that followed, as rejections piled up and impostor syndrome loomed, I kept those report cards close at hand and re-read the comments often. Their belief drove me forward, the only objective indicator I had to go on.

We all have at least one teacher whose name and impact we can recall in an instant. Teachers for whom it’s not a job, but a calling. Teachers who are, among many things, magical portals into versions of ourselves who don’t yet exist. In taking time to share those visions with us, they give us enough to go on until we finally get to meet that person for ourselves.

Fittingly, as we were telling stories of teachers who believed in us, someone in the writing group pointed out that it’s Teacher Appreciation Week. So to all the teachers out there going above and beyond for their students day after day, know that your ripple effect extends through a series of lifetimes.

The lessons you share, perhaps most of all when the textbooks are closed, carry well beyond the classroom. And those comments you (so neatly!) print in the margins?

They’ll be someone’s beacon of light as they claw their way to the person they’ve been along.