The Teacher Who Changed My Life

He is the six-foot-four, two hundred and forty pound giant. The type of man who can get McDonald’s breakfast after 10:30 A.M. The chap who kept a large wooden paddle with the phrase, ‘But I mean it in a kind way,’ emblazoned on the front on display in the back of his classroom. The educator who hacked up students, that didn’t have their speeches prepared for the day they were assigned, into tiny, insignificant pieces with a butter knife as an example to other students. The only human on earth who can defeat Chuck Norris from Walker, Texas Ranger and Kiefer Sutherland from 24 in hand-to-hand combat simultaneously! Well, okay, so maybe he wasn’t and isn’t any of these things; although he does possess that paddle.

His name, really, is Jim Prust. James Prust. I’m sure his parents called him Jimmy, at times. His friends probably called him Jamie, Jim, Jimmy, and Jimbo all at once and separate. To me, however, he is Mr. Prust: Teacher, mentor and friend.

Mr. Prust was my high school public speaking teacher and remains my personal friend to this day. By the time I reached my j...