Did a teacher change your life?

[ProfPickles]

I saw on social media that it has recently been thank a teacher week and it got me thinking about the teachers I had at school and college.

Nothing remarkable stands out to me that happened whilst in their classes (other than them being great teachers and kind people) but what really stands out to me is that my high school art teacher came to support me when I opened my business 8 years after leaving school.

My college art teacher took me out for dinner to look through my personal statement when applying for uni. I had a baby within a year of leaving her class and everyone else was off to uni without me. It meant so much that she took the time to support me and she sat and held my newborn son while I finished the meal she'd bought me.

I'm going to be starting my teacher training this year and in my current job in a secondary school I see every day how the teachers work so hard for our kids. We're in a deprived area so there is a lot to deal with behaviour wise too and the teachers are inspirational to me.

Anybody else have stories of past teachers that really changed things for them?

I think mine just made me feel valued as a person and not just someone that they once taught

Yes. My Statistics lecturer in my first year of uni (module of my Economics degree). I was always crap at maths - lower sets, GCSE grade C. However, he was the most inspiring lecturer who made me realise what an interesting subject it was. I went on to get a 1st, got a scholarship to do a MSc in Stats, then went on to do a PhD in it and built my career in an amazing field. I wholeheartedly credit him for helping me on my path. He was the funniest and kindest man. I always remind my son that a great teacher can change your life.

My O level Physics teacher empowered me to believe in myself, when all my other teachers were telling me not to set my expectations too high. I passed Physivs at O level and A level, and ended up following a career in engineering from there. I think of Mr Rhodes very fondly from time to time. He was very young (younger than my eldest sibling!) and left his brief spell on teaching to go and do a PhD after my year group did their O levels.

Six students in my year alone went onto study my favourite teacher's subject at university. He came to teaching after being a rock star and went off to do a retro tour of Germany during half term once which was hilarious.

@Milomonster that's an amazing story, it's crazy to think how different things would've been if you'd have had a different teacher that didn't change your view of the subject especially as it led you to a PHD.

@BikeRunSki it sounds like your teacher had a huge impact on you too, he sounds great. I had a really terrible physics teacher in contrast to that! He was a lovely man but it was hard to engage with his lessons because he'd often end up telling us pointless stories instead 

@FricasseeTurnips he sounds amazing what was his subject if you don't mind me asking?

Here's a thought, have any of you managed to get in touch and thank them?
I contacted my high school teacher for advice when applying for my PGCE and during my interview for it the interviewer asked if I'd ever thanked her because he said it is the most wonderful feeling when a past student remembers you so fondly and inspired you to get into teaching

My primary school teacher. He had such an impact on me, aged 11. I was raised in quite a deprived area, but I loved school and he helped me realise my potential. He told me I could do and be whatever I wanted. I passed my 11 plus, did well at college and was the first in my family to graduate. He taught me to love learning; it wasn't really about grades or earning lots of money, just learning.
I think that's what's lacking in schools today. Freedom for teachers to instill a love of learning.

@ProfPickles thank you. Sadly, my lecturer passed away. I do wish I’d told him what I achieved and how he impacted me.

I was able to tell mine. He ended up teaching at my son's primary school. I cornered him one sports day and told him. So emotional 😢

I feel a bit ungrateful as I keep hearing and seeing ads about teaching how a certain teacher/moment had a massive impact on a child's life....and I dont feel that about any of my teachers. There was 1 maths teacher who I really liked, and a language teacher who was lovely, and the others I only remember if they were annoying! I left school with decent gcses though so they must have all been fine.

My primary school teacher was an amazing man. He was so full of enthusiasm for books, and every single school day ended with him reading to us for 15 minutes. He read Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and many many more books. I firmly thank him for giving me a lifelong love of literature. I've never forgotten him.

When I was 11 years old I had a mini breakdown which caused me to fail the 11 plus. This was back in the 1950s so a long time ago. I went to a secondary modern school. One of the teachers was shocked to see me. She had been my teacher in junior school and moved up. She had expected me to go to the local grammar school. Mrs A was the English teacher and she supported me all through my career at that school until I took my GCEs. She told my parents I would make a good teacher and begged them to allow me to stay on for A levels but it was not to be. My parents did not see the value of education in raising oneself and could only think of my leaving school at 16 and contributing to the tiny family budget. The headmaster Mr C was also very supportive and even offered my parents a bursury so I could go to Paris with the school in my final year. My father refused to sign the consent form because he viewed it as charity.

My first job was as a clerical officer in the civil service but I soon realised that was not for me. I decided to apply to the city libraries as a library assistant. After having a chat with the local librarian I called in at my old school, which was just opposite. Mrs A was just finishing her class and was kind enough to make time for me. She took me to the staff room for tea and agreed to be my second referee. I subsequently made a career in librarianship.

I will always think kindly and be grateful to these and some of the other teachers at my school who took an interest in me and encouraged me to plan for the future.

Yes. I was going through a really horrible time at home. When I started secondary school, my form tutor asked us all to write down any fears, worries etc that we might want to let them know about.

So I wrote out everything that was happening at home. She took me to one side, asked me about it and must have informed social services. We were taken into care shortly afterwards.

I’m forever grateful to my teacher for doing that, for her being such a fabulous form tutor and teacher (the fiercest teacher we knew but you knew exactly where you stood with her). Thank you!

I also had some other lovely teachers. For me they were the solid dependable adults I needed in my life when I didn’t have them at home.

I'm afraid the only ones that changed my life were nasty bullies. I was a quiet but decent student. Most teachers ignored me and let me get on with quietly getting good results.

One young trendy English teacher behaved just like all the trendy kids did to the swotty child in her class. I excelled in Maths and Sciences. I thought I stood no chance in English and did no work at all for the Literature paper but got an A in Language and a B in Literature, despite having being picked on for being "posh" "swotty" and "not as clever are you think you are" in almost every lesson.

@memberofthewedding, that made me cry.
@randomkey123, same. I remember him reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and being fascinated. Definitely instilled a love of reading.

Yes, I had one who helped me above and beyond when I was behind with a subject that I ended up doing best in at secondary school (and went on to study at university). She was amazing and gave me confidence that I was good at something which is more than many of her colleagues did

The one who made the biggest difference to me was a Head rather than a class teacher. I’d moved areas from a school that was awful in a hundred ways. It was like a breath of fresh air. He valued every child and fought for every opportunity for them whatever their abilities or family circumstances, which wasn’t always an easy route to be taking in South Yorkshire in the 80s. He’d always give you a fair hearing.
He was a good guy and died too young.
I work in a school now with a leadership team and ethos that reminds me of him - it’s why I took the job.

I just read the OPs posting on getting in touch with former teachers to tell them how they inspired you. When I was taking my professional librarianship exams I found out that my boss had gone to school with my old headmaster and lived quite near to him. I told the boss that MR C had been an inspirational headmaster and to pass on my warm regards if he saw him in the area. At a later stage my boss informed me that he had passed on the message and that Mr C (now retired from teaching) remembered me fondly and was glad to hear that I was doing so well.

I later went into academia and have several times been contacted by former students. Its a very humbling experience.

In my very crappy secondary school where problems kids were sent in my day (my parents didn't send me to school, kept me home to look after siblings while they scored drugs and got stoned) I had a p.e teacher who was so approachable and understanding. Instinctively knew if I was struggling. Took the time to get to know me, encouraged me, believed in me. Everything my mom should of been doing. Gave me a bag of shopping to take home every Friday, paid for a residential school trip so I'd finally get to see the sea. Helped me talk to social services about things going on at home and then stayed in touch when I was taken into care. We are still in touch 30 years later 😍

Not me but one of my DD’s. She’s dyslexic and very shy/ introverted. She had 3 very good male teachers from yr’s 3-6 who slowly but surely built her confidence back up after an awful yr 2 teacher who screamed at her constantly for not speaking up enough in class. Her confidence was literally at rock bottom after that year. The yr 6 teacher was really the turning point as he was a SENCO and sorted out all her testing for dyslexia. He helped her tremendously by teaching her the tools she needed to learn well. She’s 16 and just done her GCSE’s (took the exams as we are not in the UK) and she is expected to pass them all. I’m not sure the yr 2 teacher would have expected her to pass anything at all!

I had a maths teacher in year 10, who gave me her home address, so I could get a self-harm help journal delivered instead of to home.

In year 13 of 6th form, after failing to get a uni place, I didn't have a clue what to do, so basically ignored it. My head of 6th called my parents, I went in and actually worked out how I was going to fix it. I did a year 14 - with a bizarre combination of as and a-level lessons. Who knows what I'd have done without him making the effort to check what I was actually doing.

@Amdone123 you are so right. I've been teaching 18 years and I'm done with it tbh. I used to love creating lessons and fun tasks. Now it's all about grades and those that don't get good grades just don't give a shit about school.

I think I've been lucky to just have had some all round good teachers. I did well at school and on the whole felt safe and happy.

My daughter has a amazing science teacher who also used to be her guide leader for a brief period. My daughter has social anxiety and although she works hard she is all but mute in most classes. In science she has corrected her teacher several times 🤣 this wonderful lady checks in with her now with every maths based question to establish that the answer is correct and has actually got her to TALK!!! Her confidence is science is at an all time high. This teacher is also the only one who phoned me straight after the lesson when my daughter had an anxiety attack. She is definitely one of our favourite people!

As a teacher myself I feel I have nothing left to give. I am in contact with a lot of my early students who are wonderful people doing so well for themselves. I don't think any of my current students would care to do that 🤷🏻‍♀️ it's time to leave as soon as I can.

It's sad to hear some of you are considering leaving the profession after so long. I saw on here a while back that someone said they felt the same and changed schools (think it may have been state to private) and they said it saved their career. They were dead set to leave the job until they tried a different school all together

I know that won't be an option for just anyone and might not even solve the issues but thought it might be worth a mention

Yes. My year six teacher who absolutely hated me, even though I was a well-behaved high-achiever.

Showed me that authority figures are only human too, and that being good/achieving aren't the automatic passports to success that everyone claims they are.

yes.
Miss Antónia ran a crafty afternoon class and taught me so much - crochet, x stitch, sewing, knitting, tie dying, bead work, weaving, macrame etc.

I probably always would've ended up doing these things but she showed us so much in such a short amount of time it opened my eyes to a whole new world of creativity.

I loved her so much and was so grateful I always wanted to name my first daughter Antónia!
Unfortunately I couldn't, for various reasons, but she's with me in every stitch!