What I've Been Taught

     When I think to about my experience of learning I immediately start to categorize the type of learning I have had and then who has taught me the best in that category. The first category is life lesions, then education, and finally spiritual lesions. For life the people that have taught me the most are my mom and my yearbook teacher, Mrs. O’Neil. For education, Mr. Rustle taught me best, although I still have a hard time admitting it. Lastly, for spiritual lesions my dear friend Dawn Shea made me learn the most.

     Ever since I was born my mom has been teaching me life lesions, and let’s be honest, it’s not that far-fetched that most of your mothers have done the same. However, my mom has gone far and beyond this. She has taught me so much but if I had to choose just one thing she has given to me, I would choose the lesson of always being there for the people you love no matter what you feel like because this life isn't just about you. She taught this lesion to me my whole life through her selfless attitude and continues to teach it to me every day by answering two in the morning phone calls and rush to a friend in need attitude.

     As for Mrs. O’Neil of whom has taught me more than anyone else. I could go on for hours talking about the things O’Neil has taught me but for now I will tell you about one very special story. At the beginning of junior year I was late to her class because I was helping a friend in need. After I told her why I was late I mentioned at the end that it was no big deal and that I didn’t really do anything to help and this is what she said:

     “Laura, what you did was a tremendous amount of help, you were there for her when she needed you and that was the type of help she needed. I notice that a lot of the time when you help someone in need you act as if you were not important, but every type of help is a big help, so quite putting yourself down as if you weren’t doing anything important because the fact is you are.”

      This has been in my head ever since she told me it and I still remained myself of it every time I help someone out.

    I’m going to be brief with Mr. Rustle and Dawn. No teacher has ever been so mean to me, yet no teacher has made me improve in school as much as he did. As for Dawn, nobody has shown me Gods love for me like she does. She speaks of Him in awe and wounded and still challenges, in a good way, my faith today. I couldn't ask for a better role model than Dawn.

     To all of my teachers, in every kind they come in, thank you.