But I knew that I had to go out there and I had to figure out how to control myself.And I figured it out.So thank you for teaching me that lesson.
Hey, it’s me, Destin. Welcome back to Smart Every Day. I had an opportunity to do an event locally where I got to make a video to thank some of my teachers and it was awesome. When I got done making this video, it was really special. Some of my teachers were actually in it. I was so proud and happy to be able to thank them for all the things they had done to shape me into the person I am today.
I wanted to share this video with everyone, because I believe it’s important to thank your teachers. If you’ve never done that, I highly recommend you consider doing it. It feels so good to me and it feels good to them because we are products of our teachers.
Here’s the video I made. In it, I thank my kindergarten teacher, Miss Maria Yung, for teaching me how to listen. I also thank my first grade teacher, Mrs. Cowart, for being so patient when teaching me how to tie my shoes. I thank my second grade teacher, Mrs. Mayfield, for teaching me that if you work hard, you get to play hard. Finally, I thank my third grade teacher, Mrs. Tepper, for teaching me the importance of self-control.
If you like this video, consider making one for your teachers and telling them the things you’ve always felt but they’ve never heard. Because I think there’s power in the spoken word, and I think this could be huge. I remember he said, Destin, you can’t do anything right.And I said, Yes, I can. And I remember making the project and I remember the pride I felt when I finished it.
I want to express my gratitude to all the teachers who have had an impact on my life. From my third grade teacher, Ms. Tepper, who taught me the importance of keeping control of myself in a group, to my fourth grade teacher, the late Mr. Keenan, who took great interest in how I held my pencil, to my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Easley, who reminded me of my own confidence and encouraged me to ask questions and explore science experiments. I also want to thank Mrs. Wallace for teaching me algebra and taking us skiing, Miss Teague for teaching us about injustice in our TAG class, Miss Henry for teaching us how to make milkshakes and sew boxers, and Mr. Hurd for his shop class and for believing in me when he said I couldn’t do anything right. All these teachers have had an immense impact on my life and I am forever grateful for the time and effort they put into helping me become the person I am today. She made me write every day.
Coach Pope taught me how to be a leader, even though I was the smallest kid on the basketball court. Coach Williams took my friends and me to the 1994 Alabama Technology Fair, which made my world so much bigger. Mr. Chance taught us how to collaborate and work together in groups. Ms. Maples kept the school running and the lunchroom ladies were fantastic. Ms. Morrow helped me with all my summer reading and I loved learning Shakespeare and mythology from her. Miss Teague taught me Algebra 2 and Trigonometry, which I still use to this day, and Coach Booth taught me calculus. Miss Hodges changed my life when she invited me to participate in Science Olympiad with my friend Stevo. We built a Rube Goldberg machine called Mission Possible and I won the bottle rocket competition in the state. Ms. Russian, my 11th and 12th grade English teacher, made me write every day, which has been one of the most influential investments in my life. Walking into the class, I had to start writing. My teacher was determined to make sure I learned how to communicate effectively, so she took the time to have arguments with me to help me understand. I am so grateful for this because people think that math and science is the most important thing, but it’s really about being able to communicate complex ideas in a simple way. My teacher taught me this, and as I look through my yearbooks and see all of the teachers that have invested so much time into my life, I am filled with emotion. I know that I am just an Alabama kid that was fortunate enough to have so many teachers speaking into my life when I needed it, and I’m thankful for that.
That’s why I challenge you to do something. Go get your yearbooks, and look at them. Think about the teachers that have done so much for you and tell a story about something that a teacher did for you. Get your phone pointed at the yearbook and say something to your teacher that you have always wanted to say. Share the fruit of their work with them and let them know how much you appreciate them. Hashtag #ThankYourTeacher - it feels so good!