Influential

Who was your most influential teacher? Why?

You know that the most important aspect about the word ” influential” is the nature of the influence not the term itself. In other words, your most influential teacher is not necessarily the one who makes a good impression on students, nor should s/he be a good person.

I was in year seven when a new teacher introduced herself to my class as our English teacher. She was beautiful, chic, and clever. Since then, I loved my English lessons  and did my best to be one of the best in my class. However, there was a significant issue which, despite my young age, I couldn’t overlook. She was unfair and she was one of those compliments seekers.

One day, when she was collecting our English  homework, I told her I couldn’t do mine because I had joined the school trip with some students in my class the day before.  She told me I had to be punished. I told her that it was my first time not to hand in my homework on time. She insisted on the punishment. I was punished. I wept from all of my heart when my friend, sitting next to me, was forgiven. My friend joined the same trip and couldn’t do her homework either. But, my friend was a good compliment giver. Unfair, I said in my head and hated my teacher.

But you know what? Years later I earned a degree in English language from one of the first and most prestigious universities in Egypt. And a year later, I married and moved to live in the UK. And, later on,  I started my journey for postgraduate studies.

My teacher may have not been a good example, but I am certain that she was one of the hidden forces that pushed me to study English more and better. Did  I know that I would need English that much later on in my life? Absolutely not. That was God’s plan and my teacher played a significant role in it. 

With all the best wishes,

Nahla