Challenge Day 31

31. The Professor: Write about a teacher that has influenced you.

In elementary school, I had the same teacher from 1st-3rd grade. My sister had had her 6 years beforehand so I knew Mrs. E as beloved. I thrived in her classroom and received the foundational education needed for my whole life.

In junior high, not only did I have one teacher who made fun of me in class, I had another one who molested me. Yep, not all teachers are a good influence.

In high school, my chemistry teacher told me that the reason I couldn’t understand a concept was because I wasn’t capable of formal thought. No, that didn’t affect me at all. That was sarcasm by the way. I was the school valedictorian.

In college, I had a professor who had kids and a successful career. She was aspirational and served as a role model for me. She later became the first chancellor of UC Merced.

In grad school, my professor refused to have me back in class and said I should drop out and be a cosmetics girl at Macy’s. That not only affected my mental health but postponed my graduation for a year because I had to wait a year before I could take the class with someone else.

I’m glad I’m old now and none of these negative people can affect my life anymore.