“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” -Einstein
I think we can all look back and remember some of our favorite teachers over the years. Chances are, what made them so great is not the subjects that they taught – as much as the way they taught it.
I got to see my college professor (and advisor) Peter Wright, last night after 15 years of being out of college. Pete knew I was on my own, putting myself through college, and always had a true concern for my wellbeing. He also seemed to know when I was “phoning it in” and when to challenge me to work harder. I think I was probably more surprised that he actually called me out on that stuff. He would say, “You’re not passing it in like that- are you, ‘Jack’?” (you can make your own guess as to what ‘jack’ was short for). After seeing Pete last night, I realized that teachers teach who they are – and the reason we like them is because we want to be like them.
It felt great to see his work last night, and to get him to smile. I don’t think he wanted anything to do with this picture- which is why I like it even more.
