Tricia Benker: A Teacher, A Mother, A Friend
A teacher can easily be one of the most influential people in a student's life. This was even more obvious after reading the book “Tuesdays with Morrie”. The book is about the author, Mitch Albom reconnecting with his beloved college professor Morrie Schwartz, who was dying of ALS. Soon after meeting again Morrie and Mitch both decided to do one last thesis together. From that day forward they decided their Tuesdays to each other going through all the hard topics from love, loss, and undeniable truth of the future, past, and present. The emotional rollercoaster for Morrie and Mitch resulted in a best selling book, and later a movie that left people all over the world shocked and touched by the sociology
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Benker and I talk about is school in general, so to say that I was curious to hear how she was like in school would be an understatement. I was not surprised when she said that she was a “straight A student”, until her first B in the 8th grade. I always pictured Tricia as athletic so it did not phase me when she said that she played both Volleyball and Basketball in middle school, along with being on the swim team most her life. I was taken back though, when she mentioned that she was not the best socially. Smiling, she described herself as a “mean girl” throughout middle school, but still managed to keep a good representation for herself. Conversely, high school was not as good to Tricia. Her perfect grades dropped, and she almost failed chemistry. At this point, Tricia was going through a phase where she “hated everyone and everything” and was simply, “too busy being tough and cool to worry about school”. She would not even eat her lunch in the cafeteria until her senior year, due to the fact that she, “just did not like anyone”. On top of that, for three straight years she only wore shades of black, even saying, “The closest thing I got to a color, would be grey!”. Her inspiration had now changed from her mother to Marilyn Manson, and even confessed to wanting to marry Trent Reznor. Of course this type of behavior would not be much of a problem at Hancock, but at Althoff High School it almost caused her to get kicked out. “They did not like the way I dressed, or how dark my eyeshadow was.” she says, “It was not exactly the best look for a catholic
In conclusion, in Conley’s memoir he focuses on his experience of switching schools, while in the third grade, from a predominantly African American and Latino school to a predominantly caucasian elementary school. His memoir focuses on the differences in his experiences at each school and how race and class further separated the similarities between his two schools. Conley focuses equally on race and class and how they both influenced and shaped his life, but class was the primary influence on Conley’s
In modern society, the rules for school are simple and straightforward. To do well in school means to do well later in all aspects of life and guaranteed success will come. Sadly however, this is not the case for Ken Harvey or Mike Rose. Author Mike Rose goes to Our Lady of Mercy, a small school located deep in Southern Los Angeles where he meets other troubled students. Being accidentally placed in the vocational track for the school, Rose scuttles the deep pond with other troubled youths. Dealt with incompetent, lazy and often uninvolved teachers, the mix of different students ‘s attention and imagination run wild. Rose then describes his classmates, most of them trying to gasp for air in the dead school environment. On a normal day in religion
Jessica Hathaway never watched television; there wasn't one in her house and she wasn't allowed to watch anyone else's. Truthfully, we all could use a little less television. Jessica didn't go to school, Lisa felt the children should forge their own way in life. Real life the best tutor, experience the best preparation. That could apply to an eighteen year old, but a seven year old? Lisa failed to file a home-schooling plan with local authorities, another display of her anti-conformist attitude. School is an unfit place for my children, Lisa has said.
There was a few things common with each student at the SharpsTown High School and one of those things are their past lives. Most didn’t have a family that really cared for them or none at all. The ones that did, really didn’t have the best, if I had a choice , the best family relationship would be Marco and his family,but that’s none of my business. For the rest of them, they seemed to have doubts
“School can be a tremendously disorienting place… You’ll also be thrown in with all kind of kids from all kind of backgrounds, and that can be unsettling… You’ll see a handful of students far excel you in courses that sound exotic and that are only in the curriculum of the elite: French, physics, trigonometry. And all this is happening while you’re trying to shape an identity; your body is changing, and your emotions are running wild.” (Rose 28)
When life becomes overwhelming during adolescence, a child’s first response is to withdraw from the confinement of what is considered socially correct. Individuality then replaces the desire to meet social expectations, and thus the spiral into social non-conformity begins. During the course of Susanna’s high school career, she is different from the other kids. Susanna:
Throughout our lives, we have the opportunity to interact and learn from scores of individuals. Whether it is our friends, family members or co-workers, each person has the ability to make an impact on our lives, both positive and negative. One individual who has had a positive impact on my life is Mrs. Shannon Winchester, my former Advance Placement United States History teacher at Weddington High School. Yet, after I concluded my time in her classroom, she not only became a person I deeply admire, but someone who I aspire to become one day.
Melinda starts school off in a bad way. She continuously gets in trouble with numerous teachers. She never does any homework. She mostly takes naps. Worst of all, in her mind, she has no friends. This does not change until she meets Heather, the new girl. Heather is...
When I got to college, I was surprised by the diversity, different people, values, and behaviors I was introduced to. Sandy’s preppy subculture and upbringing are what make her studious, good-spirited, and a rule follower, like myself.
A teacher today needs to have an ability to relate to and create partnerships not with their students, but also families, administrators and other professionals. This ensures that all persons involved with the education of the student are on the same page. All involved then work in harmony and help each other achieve the common goal of educating the student in the best possible way for the best possible result. (Wesley, 1998, p 80)
Looking back from this past year to my earlier school days, one of the teachers that boldly stands out in my memory is Mrs. Miner. No one else has named me as her daughter, Joanie Miller. While at Grace Academy, art class at the end of the day with Mrs. Frisk still makes my sides ache from giggling. During the days when there were no art classes, Mr. Peterson’s enthusiasm for hockey brightened the gymnasium, as he and my father practiced rapid-fire slapshots on some unsuspecting ninth grader. But, through all the memories, I was trying to think of one characteristic of teachers that has shown through the many years. I thought about their dedication, patience and guidance but decided that these wouldn’t do.
Do you remember the teacher that inspired you to do your best? Or maybe the teacher who believed in you when the rest of the world had turned against you? Teachers have a way of touching students’ lives, whether in a large or very minute way. I can think of numerous times that a teacher made a difference in my life. I am so appreciative of them, and I want to do for other students what many of my teachers have done for me. That is why, after I obtain, both, my Bachelor and Master degrees, I plan to enter the teaching profession.
During my senior year of high school, one of my classes was AP Calculus BC taught by Mr. Trafecanty, yet, he never actually taught the subject. Instead, he created an intimate and collaborative learning environment for our class to teach each other in. This environment was created by having a classroom of only thirteen students, and by having students learn and understand topics collaboratively. And although Mr. Trafecanty never gave a lecture or a powerpoint presentation, he expressed a different role that teachers have to the greatest extent. Mr. Trafecanty used all of his effort as a teacher to support his students, which created motivated and encouraged students to be successful in a collaborative learning environment. Mr. Trafecanty’s classroom revealed that support from a teacher is a driving force for students to be invested in their own learning, and that a teacher is not simply one who understands a subject, but that a teacher
Teachers serve as the guiding force in a student’s life. They are responsible for molding a student’s personality and shaping his/her mental orientation. Teachers deeply impact our lives and direct the course of our future. One cannot deny the influence of teachers in one’s life. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that, till a certain age, out life revolves around our teachers. They are our constant companions, until we grow old enough to come out of their shadow and move ahead on our own.
When I look back to my young developing stages in life, I always ask myself where would I be today if it wasn’t for my teachers? Teachers are the ones who build our future generations. Preparing children and teens for higher education. Also playing a huge part in shaping children’s lives, enlightening them, and educating them about society and the world around them; the types of things that a parent doesn’t have time for, or just lacks the knowledge of. I think teachers are what help make this world go round.