My essay from 1998

> • Reflect upon your years of elementary and secondary education
> and select a person, an event, or a class that has had a great impact on your life and explain your selection.
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> In my whole elementary and secondary school life no other educationalist has had a more determining influence on me than Mr. Young.
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> I remember as if it was yesterday. The icy morning wind howled through the oak trees once green but now hanging limply vulnerable to the battering wind as their bare boughs tell their own sad story. A twisted branch scraped the large window above causing a screeching noise sending shivers down my spine. I was still in shock after hearing myself accept the Dean’s proposition to just go and mingle with the rest of the Form and kicked myself hard under the chair. Here I was in my first Secondary year in a new school, a new place even a relatively new country, no friends or relations for miles on end but destined to acquaint myself with strangers. The least she could have done was to assign a person to take me around! What was I supposed to say “Hi all! I’m new! Can some one show me around?”
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> I gathered my last ounce of courage, picked myself up and walked through the door leading to the students’ common room. It was a large room that had a musty smell along with a hint of coffee. There were groups of students huddled around the radiators. I could see a passage leading to a small kitchen and then out to where I supposed the lockers were. Turning I saw people quickly glance away while others stared curiously. After a smile and nod in their direction, I took an empty seat next to a pleasant looking bunch. I soon made a couple of good friends and felt like a fool for having been worried. When the bell rang signifying the start of lessons, I was rather enjoying myself.
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> My newfound happiness didn’t last very long because although all the students had friendly dispositions, the teachers were different altogether. Being an old fashioned school they demanded to be addressed as “Sir” or “Mam” and it was required that we stand upon their entering a classroom. This was a shock to me as at my previous school teachers were treated as equals and everyone was on a first name basis. Also I realized here the teachers didn’t dictate or give notes instead they would lecture and leave us the responsibility of making notes. I was confused about this and went through lessons trying to jot down as much as the teacher was saying often not understanding anything at all.
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> I went to my fifth lesson with a terrible headache. When the teacher, Mr. Young came in I was armed with my pen ready to start scribbling at the word go. From the students murmurs I gathered he was new. The principal entered causing us rise, after signaling us to sit he told the teacher to separate a couple of boys at the back, as they were the troublemakers of the century. After the principal departed those boys got up to be reseated and were stunned when they were told to sit back down by Mr. Young. He explained that in his system of teaching, everyone started off an ‘A’ student. We could choose to either keep or lose it. Seeing our pens in hand he told us that during his university years the fellow sitting next to him did nothing but scribble notes while the lecturer spoke. He on the other hand did nothing but listen diligently. At the end of the lecture his neighbor had a lovely set of notes of which he did not understand a word Mr. young went on to say this soon failed and he preferred we listen to scribbling notes. After hearing this all pens went down.
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> I had never before met anyone like him. He not only taught us but also shared his University experiences with us so we had an idea of what we were getting into. He took the initiative to photocopy notes so we didn’t worry about notes. He would always try his best to help and guide. We found ourselves contributing in his lessons and actively learning. I also noticed the grades for this class higher than those from other forms.
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> In conclusion Mr. Young made a great impact on my life as it was there that I learnt a little effort can go a long way. I then resolved that if I were ever educationally inclined I would follow his style of teaching I’d never be indifferent towards any student. But rather try to understand them be one of them and teach from there. Mr. Young made learning an interesting and enjoyable experience rather than a compulsory activity. That’s how I think learning should be looked at