Years ago while still a teen services librarian, I visited a junior high class of mostly newcomer youth and we did a program together about heroes and icons.
I had three or four teachers (with names I can remember) that pushed me to do better. Mr. Stefanchuk was not only my math teacher, he was the vice principal. Mr. Nikiforuk was my grade 10 physics teacher and aside from his influence was the one who taught us that there is no such thing as "centrifugal force" 😎. Mr Kowalchuk was another math teacher (okay, I was a science geek in high school - sue me) and Mr Raizada was the best chemistry teacher of the three good ones I had from grade 10 through 12.
Unfortunately, my dad was my problem. He wasn't abusive or anything, it was just that he was incapable of teaching. So his approach was "if you just did it the right way you'd be able to do it". And when it came to school, if I came home with straight A's with marks between 85-95% his response was usually. "what happened to the other 15%?" 🤷♂️ As a consequence, I tended to quit rather than end up with sub standard results.
Over the last few years I have ventured outside my comfort zone. I've taught myself how to cook. I do a number of woodworking projects that are beyond the simple box for planting flowers (as and example). And my biggest, in some respects - I now ride a motorcycle. I'm on my third model, and have travelled a fair bit - ~150,000km. I still hear his voice in the back of my head belittling my accomplishments, but have found a way to dismiss that.
I try to keep my good teachers in mind whenever I am dealing with anyone younger than me. And if I can't teach them how to do something, I tell them that all I can offer is how I do it and they may have to look elsewhere for further guidance.
You’re a light in sometimes dark world, Jen.
I had three or four teachers (with names I can remember) that pushed me to do better. Mr. Stefanchuk was not only my math teacher, he was the vice principal. Mr. Nikiforuk was my grade 10 physics teacher and aside from his influence was the one who taught us that there is no such thing as "centrifugal force" 😎. Mr Kowalchuk was another math teacher (okay, I was a science geek in high school - sue me) and Mr Raizada was the best chemistry teacher of the three good ones I had from grade 10 through 12.
Unfortunately, my dad was my problem. He wasn't abusive or anything, it was just that he was incapable of teaching. So his approach was "if you just did it the right way you'd be able to do it". And when it came to school, if I came home with straight A's with marks between 85-95% his response was usually. "what happened to the other 15%?" 🤷♂️ As a consequence, I tended to quit rather than end up with sub standard results.
Over the last few years I have ventured outside my comfort zone. I've taught myself how to cook. I do a number of woodworking projects that are beyond the simple box for planting flowers (as and example). And my biggest, in some respects - I now ride a motorcycle. I'm on my third model, and have travelled a fair bit - ~150,000km. I still hear his voice in the back of my head belittling my accomplishments, but have found a way to dismiss that.
I try to keep my good teachers in mind whenever I am dealing with anyone younger than me. And if I can't teach them how to do something, I tell them that all I can offer is how I do it and they may have to look elsewhere for further guidance.
I still think about a couple of my teachers often and sometimes dream of them. They were transformative relationships for me.
Brilliantly said and written. Youth need places to be safe, role models in their lives and lives filled with humane and compassionate folks.