The One about My Dad The Teacher

One of my favourite films is "It's a Wonderful Life."  I think the story of how Clarence (the Angel for those who haven't seen it) shows George (the suicidal hero) how many lives he had touched and what those lives might have been like had he not been there to touch them.  Whilst a wildly fantastical film, there is so much truth in the lesson that "you don't always know the impact you have on others."  Sometimes you will be lucky enough to find out in your lifetime.  Sometimes you won't and it will be your children or grandchild that hear the stories of the impact you made.  All you can do is make sure that whatever you do in this world, you try as best you can to make a good impact on those around you.

My high school was an excellent school.  The teachers were genuinely interested in children and I have more that one memory as a young teenager of teachers who reached out to sensitively support children who were struggling.  I am immensely proud that one of those teachers who is thought of so highly is my own dad.  I am also so glad that he is still with us to hear the gratitude for the impact he had on others.  Social media is not all bad!!

This morning I woke to a conversation in which I was tagged in Facebook.  It lifted my spirits and I immediately reached out to Bobbie to ask if I could share.  This is what Bobbie had to say:

..."At Ballycastle High I was in Glendun and our house colour was yellow.  I never did Physical Ed, I managed to get out of it.  So in first year I would spend most of my time in the greenhouse at the back of Mr Saywers (sic) class.  He was very good to me and did his best to teach me some common sense and initiative.  I learnt a lot there and I would like to say thank you to him for going the extra mile with me and having the patience and determination that he had to reach out to me and give me the confidence and strength to redefine myself rather than being defined by my illness....he taught me to have some initiative and in all honestly when I think back it was much more worthwhile I didn't do PE and much better for me that I was in the greenhouse instead....I really appreciate everything he did for me...he also taught me to have respect for others."  Bobbie Gibson.

I am immensely proud of the teacher my dad was (and still is to my son - and well - also me).  I am thankful that he gets to hear how he touched the lives of others. 

As Maya Angelou said "People won't remember what you said, people won't remember what you did, but people will remember how you made them feel."

Tell me - which teacher made the biggest impact on you and how?