Teacher’s Pet

The sound of the phrase “the teacher’s pet” is unnerving. For me it’s associated with being the outsider in the classroom, the one that’s bullied. I really don’t like the feelings that come up when I hear that phrase.
But it also means a teacher that has had a huge impact on someone’s life.

When I read today’s Daily Prompt; Tell us about a teacher who had a real impact on your life, either for the better or the worse. How is your life different today because of him or her? I can only think of one person. Mrs. K.

Mrs. K. was my english teacher in high school. She has had a lasting impact on my life. She’s the one that got me interested in english, she’s the one that single-handedly kept me from going insane at school.
I was the one that got bullied. A lot. I was the outsider. Mrs. K. knew that. She also noticed that I was interested in anything and everything. She fueled my interests. By simply asking me about things, giving me stuff to do when I was bored. She helped me out when I had problems. I could always talk to her. She helped me a lot.

I can’t help but think without her my life would be much less colourful than it is now. I would never have learned so much english if it wasn’t for her. I would never have gotten to watch Time Team, through which I learned even more. So, in hindsight, she made me tweet in English and made me set up my blog in English. If it weren’t for her I wouldn’t be posting this right now.

When I finished school I kept in touch. I saw her regularly, even babysat her son. The son that was born while I was in her class, I even visited her in hospital. Nowadays I don t see her as much. I know life hasn’t been kind on her. Her husband is very ill. I feel so sorry for her. She helped me through a rough time after school, when my uncle died. I remember her and a friend of my mom helping my up when I collapsed after the funeral. I remember crying like a child on her shoulder.

Mrs. K. thank you so much for all you’ve done for me. Thank you for being there when I needed you. Thank you for making me feel good about myself when others completely trashed me. Thank you for everything you learned me. You are my hero!