most unforgettable experience in school and lesson learned essay

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The learning network | what memorable experiences have you had in learning science or math.

What Memorable Experiences Have You Had in Learning Science or Math?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

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Update: Oct. 16: Winners have been announced! Thank you for participating!

What moments or concepts do you remember best from your education in science, technology, engineering or math, the so-called STEM subjects?

What high or low points come to mind when thinking about classes you’ve taken in school? What do you remember learning informally, outside of school, whether on your own or with friends or relatives?

A special back-to-school edition of the Science Times section is asking what works, and what doesn’t, in STEM education , and we are inviting students to help answer that question by reflecting on their own learning in these areas.

So, if you’re 13 to 19 years old, please tell us below about a memorable moment in your STEM education — whether in school or out of school, whether last week or 10 years ago — and what it taught you.

Note: This is a special edition of our daily Student Opinion question. Posting a comment here by 7 a.m. Eastern on Sept. 27 will enter you in a contest that we will judge in collaboration with The Times’s science desk, and make you eligible to have your writing featured elsewhere on NYTimes.com.

To help answer the question, you might ask yourself:

• What comes to mind when you think back over the best, or worst, moments in the science, technology, engineering or math classes you have taken since you were a child? What lessons, activities or assignments were especially memorable? Why?
• How have your experiences outside of school taught you about scientific, mathematical or technological concepts? For example, you might remember an exhibition at a science museum, or something you made or experimented with in an after-school club .
• Based on your experience, what advice would you give teachers of STEM subjects? Why?

So whether it was the time your third-grade teacher took you outside to see real-world parallel and perpendicular lines; the camping trip you went on with your Girl Scout troop where you learned, firsthand, about how poison ivy spreads; or the summer you spent at an explosives or coding camp, tell us in detail about one important experience and what it taught you — and what advice you might give teachers because of it.

We have a few basic rules for this contest:

• Please keep your responses to 350 words or fewer. ( Here is a word count tool .)
• Anyone who is 13 to 19 years old, from anywhere in the world, is eligible.
• As always for this blog, please omit your last name, but please include your age and hometown.
• Only one comment per student, please.

Teachers: We’ll leave this question open to comments indefinitely, and we invite you to bring all of your classes to answer it, but please remember that if you would like your students to be considered for publication, they must post their responses by Sept. 27. Update: To make it easier to keep track of your students’ submissions, we suggest giving them a class code of some kind to affix to their first names (“JackHCHS”).

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name . For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

In middle school I came to understand an important distinction that has remained with me ever since. I was attending school in Santa Clara, CA. Arithmetic had been difficult for me through each successive grade. Now in middle school I was faced with algebra and even if I somehow was able to pass the course, an additional hurdle — geometry loomed to further humble me in my parents eyes. Mr. DeVeney taught introduction to algebra, using paperback textbook from SMSG (some math some garbage) was Mr. D’s description. To my complete surprise algebra was not arithmetic more advanced. Algebra was conceptual, imaginative, manipulating symbols. Algebra was mathematics, and I was a much better student of mathematics than I had ever been of arithmetic.

When I was in Grade Seven, I entered a mathematics league with my classmates. After grinding at the competition for one and a half hours, I finally managed to finish and enter my competition. I’ve always been good at math, so I figured I had it in the bag. Three weeks later when the results came, I found out I had 24/25 questions correctly answered. I was ecstatic! I crowed over it to my friends, and to my horror discovered that one of my friends(not the brightest) had also gotten 24/25! I was shocked, because the average score was 5/25, and I was expecting him to get 5-10. To this day it is a reminder to me to never take things for granted.

When I was in tenth grade, I remember going into math class one day somewhat frustrated, I guess, since we had to learn the quadratic formula that day. I know I am a person who forgets things quite easily, so i was like this is going to be a bad day for me. But instead of it being bad it was good for me. My teacher played the quadratic formula song for about half of the 45 minutes we were in class, and on the bus ride home I remember the song completely. To this day i only remember a little bit of it, but in math class i will always remember the quadratic formula now.

AP Chemistry is notorious around the country for being one of the most difficult AP subjects, and at my high school it was no different. However, at my school, things were a little different. My AP Chemistry teacher had made it clear to us from the first day of school that we would be successful in both the course and the challenging exam at the end of the year, and she was right. She had the ability to make us believe in ourselves by being the most committed and confident teacher from which I have ever had the pleasure of learning. I can remember staying after school for hours with my classmates preparing for the endless tests and rigorous labs, with my teacher present. This commitment allowed the class to develop a quasi-competitive, and wholly collaborative dynamic. We all pushed each other throughout the year, and it paid off. We were all successful, just as she had promised on the first day of school. I am now a student studying Chemical Engineering at Northwestern University, and everyday I am reminded of the excellent work of my high school AP Chemistry teacher. Science and engineering is more collaborative than ever before, and the lessons I learned in high school not only benefit my performance, but also enhance my experiences and passion for science. I firmly believe that the commitment and confidence exhibited by my teacher should be put into practice by science and math teachers across the country to ensure that a passion for these subjects fosters the next generation of great scientists and engineers in the United States.

When I was in 8th grade my science teacher really changed my view on Science as a subject. She made me more eager to learn about the different science subjects, like astronomy, earth science and chemistry. That year has changed the way that I study and learn about science even today. It changed my work ethics and even my grades to a degree. Looking back I may not remember everything that I was taught to learn about like songs and movies, but I will always remember the formulas and facts that were in those songs and movies that were drilled into me day after day so that we would remember them. I also will always remember the study skills that I learned in her class like the right ways to approach a lab or test. All and all 8th grade science for me changed my academic life for the better,

As an aspiring politician, I can’t say that STEM subjects are my favorite. By a long shot. Instead of finding the integral of a differential equation, I would much rather be finding how Scott F. Fitzgerald integrates complex literature themes into his novels. I mean, who wouldn’t? ‘Unfortunately’ for me, I’m in the International Baccalaureate Program–a program that puts an emphasis on being “well rounded” (aka, being good at things like math AND science at the SAME time!). In such a program, our teachers understand that while we might not get integration by parts or l’Hôpital’s Rule the first time around, we may treat Dante’s Inferno like child’s play, and, consequently, they’ve derived a solution; they constantly strive to integrate (ha, calculus pun) our math skills with our literacy skills, our foreign language skills with our science skills. This induces an environment where subjects aren’t simply bounded by name, fact, or figure, but rather, application to the “real world”. We are taught to see how each element of our classes connect to the real world, eliminating the ever common, discouraging “I’ll never use this outside of this class” mentality. Rather than a single turning point, this ongoing teaching method and more so understanding of our student body has presented a strong influence to my life. I’m actually, heaven forbid, enjoying my Calc BC class (as evident through cheesy Calculus puns)!

The part of science that I find to be special is the serendipitous inquiry. These are the things that stumble upon and find yourself learning about, either in the classroom or on your own. My eighth grade science teacher called these circumstances “teachable moments”, meaning that they were not part of the curriculum but could be made into a lesson quite easily with just a little bit of excitement and love for science. The best of these “teachable moments” that I encountered was on a common weekday morning, in my first period science class. Not only the twenty some odd students came to class that day, a stray banana managed to find its way into the room as well. This wasn’t just any banana though, it was the didn’t want to eat it at lunch so shoved it back in the locker banana. So in other words it had had time to ferment its inner squishiness for several days. After hearing about the new student (the banana), my teacher picked it up with a smile on his face, and a chuckle that meant he had a crazy idea and we were going to get out of doing the normal work of our 42 minute work period. My teacher pealed the banana into three strips of peel, and placed each on the floor with the inside down, against the tile floor. He then told us that today’s lesson was to test the action of friction and lubrication. Next, our teacher called on three students to ginny pig his experiment, two to stand beside the peel in the event that someone slip and fall, and one to step on the banana peel and test its lubrication. The first of us to step on the banana peel was a kid named Earl, he had heard of the extreme lubrication power of rotten bananas, but never tested it out so he had no idea how slippery it would actually be. When Earl stepped on the banana, it was like his foot became disconnected from the universe for a fraction of a second, and he fell backward and into the two other kids who kept him from hitting the floor. The whole class was in uproar at this point, and ecstatically trying to be selected to be the one to step on the next peel, and get their fix of the lubrication powers of rotten banana. When the period was over, all of the class had had enough laughs to last a weeks worth of class periods, and we left with smiles that screamed “serendipitous science” on our faces.

One memorable moment in my STEM education was when I was hired by the New York Hall Of Science as an Explainer Trainee. Working there has increased my interest in the STEM field, seeing that it is a STEM- centered career field. Because of the experience that I have had at the New York Hall of Science, I have realized that I would like to study mechanical engineering in college. In the process of learning that I wanted to become a mechanical engineer I focused more on my mathematics and science courses. That is my memorable moment in my STEM education.

My high school physics teacher was terrific. You never knew what day the next short snap quiz would be. They counted as part of your final grade. Most everyone everyday got to class way before the bell rang.

Science class has always been an interest of mine. Unlike math, or reading, or writing, science explained to me what was going on around me, not just what happened in some rule book dictating how we are supposed to read or write or solve equations. When I was in 8th grade, I came into my homeroom class and my eccentric teacher Mr. Mullen was holding an impromptu experiment using lubricants. When I walked in I was informed that a gross rotten banana had been kicked into our classroom. Instead of throwing out the squished banana, our teacher had the bright idea to show us how lubricants actually work. We’ve all seen people slipping on banana peels in the movies, or cartoons, and here we were given an opportunity to enjoy the comic relief while still maintaining a scientific standpoint. At the age of 8th grade we all welcomed the idea of watching our classmates slip on banana peels, but for me the appeal was to see if what we had learned about lubricants the week before actually applied in real life. The experiment was set up with three people, one to step on the peal mid-walk, and one holding each of his arms. As he walked forward we were all on the edge of our seats, then as soon as he put weight on the toe that was on the gross mess which was once a banana, he lost his footing and fell, only to be caught by the two guys holding his arms. This experiment was interesting and comical and it gave me a reason to be interested in science. Through this experiment I learned how science is a factor in everything we do in the real world, and even in TV and I’ll never forget it.

In a high school like mine, bright minds are selected and thrust together in a small space. As one would imagine, this creates intense competition. This determination to best those around you makes students reach outside their educational realms and search for something to focus their talents on. With this exploration came, for me, an unexpected love for the intricacies and perplexities of STEM research. Therefore, when I look at my educational experience (as an objective third party), it becomes clear that there is no single moment one can remember that taught him something. He who, upon finding no SINGLE memory, searches for the one moment, never truly experienced the wonders of the STEM fields. Instead, it is he who finds culmination of atmosphere, competition, curiosity, and drive, who has. For me, the value of the STEM fields does not only lie in the material they teach us (mathematics, technology, engineering, and the sciences), but in the life skills they provide and the passion they instill. There is no single MOMENT to look back on that will cause a student to truly appreciate STEM education, but each student who does, as I do, values sitting at a computer and researching for hours on end as much as they cherish hearing their name called in honor of their research.

Science has been an interesting subject for me because its not all about one topic. There’s basically and wide variety to study in science and there is always new discoveries being found. When I was a freshmen I had to come up with a science project. I thought long and hard on what I was going to do. While looking through cereal I noticed the words iron and I thought to myself hmmmmm is there really iron in cereal. So while I googled it I came up with extrodinary answers and soon developed the perfect experiment. I grabbed a bag of frosted flakes and began my process. I filled the bag with ceral and added water then mashed it all up. Then I grabbed a magnet and looked very carefully there were black specks the became attracted to the magnet. as soon as I got the iron out I felt like I made the most remarkable discovery in the science world. This is the story of my most memorable science project that I would cherish and remember for a long time.

Science is an incredible way of knowing whats all around you. Without science you wouldn’t know how the waves in the ocean is created. You wouldn’t know that the planets revolve around the sun because we would still believe that the Earth is in the middle of the solar system. Science is involved in your everyday life. Mathematics and Science come hand in hand with each other. But knowing one extremely well will help you out in the other. Math, you are always using equations to solve for certain things. Don’t you do that in science as well? But don’t they as use the same equations for most of the information in which you are tying to figure out. Both science and math interest me and i will further my education and will have a career in them.

In eighth grade I spent hours after school every week learning chemistry with my science teacher, who knew tons of chemistry and was an awesome teacher. I learned tons that semester– we didn’t have any homework or anything outside of class, but it’s still the best experience I’ve ever had with science in school. I left middle school eventually but held onto my love of chemistry– I’m still learning it like he taught me today (if you’re out there, Mr. Barton, thanks for what you did).

I’ve never thought of myself as the erratic mad scientist, curing cancer or treating lung diseases. Yet somehow, I find myself- a 100 pound scruffy 16 year old girl- doing just that. As a young girl, I never believed that I had the capabilities to do science- a word I reserved for the boy with glasses who always got A’s on math tests and learned long division first. It wasn’t until a UT Austin outreach program that I had an epiphany; just because I failed Algebra 1 the first time around didn’t mean I lacked a natural aptitude for science. The possibilities flooded my body, and I saw a world of possibilities; only a few of which were constrained by ability. I threw myself headfirst into particle physics and mechanics, only coming up for air when I felt like my head was going to explode. A year later, I began devising my own theories. I wanted to discover. I wanted to create something and become a part of this world I had never seen possible for myself. The summer of 2013 was when it really all began. After countless emails to professors, I stepped into my first lab. I half expected to crash and burn- after all, that’s what had happened in 8th grade Algebra and countless other chemistry classes. But boy, was I wrong. Every hour was the best hour of my life. Every new procedure, every technique, every machine lit up my mind. It was almost as though I could feel the neurons firing. Tonight I’ll finish up my Pre-Cal homework, browse Facebook a bit, and go to sleep. Tomorrow I’ll wake up and go to school. I’ll struggle a bit in Physics- I always do. But then I’ll catch an afternoon bus to UT, and spend hours in the lab- doing what I’ve always dreamed of. -Pia, Texas

Much of my life has revolved around STEM (mainly technology). However, I enjoy all STEM subjects and find them interesting. The most memorable moment for me this year was when my science teacher showed our class the differences in gas densities through experimentation. She shook up a flask and poured the invisible gas onto a ramp. She then lit the gas on fire to show how it had traveled down the ramp because it was more dense than normal air. I found this fascinating! It’s intriguing experiments like these that make me love science.

the ‘answer’ is TEACHERS, inspiring brilliant energetic and multifaceted humans known as teachers. this can’t be quantified as merely experience, it’s much more…

One of my most memorable experiences in school had to be taking engineering as a freshman four years ago. I had never taken a course like this before and I was the only female in the class. It was terrifying at first but as the months went by I became more comfortable. I remember designing 3D models of shapes and metal parts by hand and then using the computer software to design them. Even though at first I thought I would not do well in engineering I knew I wanted to take it to become an aerospace engineer or a pilot. I realized that sometimes you have to do something you do not want to do, in order to accomplish your goals or dreams. Now four years later I am taking honors calculus and even though I’m not the only girl in the class, math terrifies me. What I have learned in these classes I can use in life. Which is how to work in a group and be indepenent. These skills are vital not only for becoming an engineer but also being a leader in the real world.

My favorite memory from a science class happened a few years ago. It was my first science expo ever and our project was using different fuels (like backing soda and vinegar, diet coke and mentos, and water and alkali tablets) to fuel a few bottle rockets. The interesting story was in the diet coke and mentos, by accident we brought the wrong type of mentos, fruit instead of mint. If you’re not already aware, the only way foam is produced is with mint mentos due to the lack of candy costing and small crevices. That type of rocket just wouldn’t work and our group had to figure out why. I think I learned more from my failure than from a lot of successes I’ve had. I learned to make sure to check and double check before doing anything and to keep learning even after you make a mistake.

I always want for everything in my life to be concrete. By this, I mean that I want things to always have a precise answer and to never be too broad of a topic. However, throughout my middle school experience, I have learned that science is all around me. If someone asked me to list everything in the world involving science, I would never be able to complete the list. There are an infinite number of science relations in the world, from the way we move, to the way the Earth rotates. I have always loved science, but this has been a difficult concept for me. Though, along with the help of my science teachers, I have managed to accept the idea that science is not tangible. Now, I have learned to embrace and adore this concept, thanks to my teachers.

When I was in 6th grade, my class went on a field trip to an interactive exhibit. It tested us on skill and teamwork. We would simulate being in the International Space Station and the other group would be at mission control next door. We were able to get complete the mission quicker than any other class that’s been there. This exciting experience taught me patience, persistence, teamwork, and focus.

I was in seventh grade and we were in the middle of expo ( our science fair). The class was building a renewable and eco-friendly city and my group was in charge of electricity. We had wired all the cords to our three foot tall building and were warming up a solar lamp to see if our lights would work. As my partner, Mamie, was holding the heat lamp it started getting really hot. In a few minutes, the heat lamp had burned a huge hole through her thick cotton sweatshirt! She was very disappointed, but we were all ecstatic when we found out that the lights worked and we had used solar power to power a building! We did this buy attaching solar panels to the top of our building and attaching alligator clips from the wires of the solar panels to the lightbulb. We shone a solar lamp over the panels and to our amazement they worked! I will never forget the day that we used solar power to light up a building!

In 7th grade, I had a science teacher who everyone called Dr. Pete. He was respected and favored as the best teacher in the school by almost all the students because of his teaching methods that were abstract, funny, and a little outlandish . . . and yet extremely efficient and interactive. So we were at the end of a long Chemistry unit, at the beginning of the week, and it was five minutes past the time when class was supposed to start. All the students were in there seats, but everyone had the same question in their head—where’s Dr. Pete? Finally, Dr. Pete comes in, struggling to carry a moderately-sized cooler and placing it on the table at the front of the room. Then he announces: “Class, we’re going to start a lab that should last us until the end of the week.” Opening the cooler, a plume of steam dispersed from it. Turns out the cooler was filled to the brim with dry ice (or solid CO2). I don’t remember exactly what we did, but we tested out a whole bunch of properties and did a whole page-sized list full of experiments that lasted us through that entire week. During the week, we consistently went back to everything we had learned in the unit—and I mean everything. It was extremely fun, and I was never bored for an instant in that class. At the end of the week, I headed home for the weekend, the experiments and knowledge still fresh in my mind. As soon as I got home, I went on my computer and started researching as much of the material as I could remember. I was going in-depth with all the elements, their properties, different compounds, their real-world usage—everything. I spent around three hours doing that. I had always loved chemistry, and loved everything about it. But that was the day that I became fascinated by it.

When I was younger, I used to think that science was learning how plants grew and math was 2+3=5. In seventh Grade I was asked how many points are in this triangle. At first I tried to count the squares on the graph paper. Was I right? Not exactly. There is actually an infinite amount of points. At first it hurt my head to think about it, but then I slowly started t realize that math is so much more complex than even the pythagorean theorem. Some numbers are imaginary, there isn’t an answer to every problem, numbers don’t stop. The same thing applies with science. Science can be anything from the sky to your phone to bugs. Math and Science aren’t confined into a single concrete subject. Just like the number of points there are in a triangle, they are infinitely large.

Through out elementary school I had always thought Science was the most boring subject. However, once I reached Middle School that all changed. In seventh grade I had Mr. Twardowski as my Science teacher and he is the reason why I love Science so much now. He always made the class fun and kept all of the students attention for the full 42 minutes. He opened my eyes to so many things and inspired me to appreciate every little thing that surrounds us. One thing I will never forget about his class is an experiment he let us do which was to make glow sticks. Even though that may not sound like a big deal now, in seventh grade is was pretty cool. He always demonstrated and assigned experiments that were relevant and useful to our age group. He turned what I thought was the most boring subject into my favorite subject. I now envy chemists and physicists because of their talents and dedication for what they do. Science is such an amazing field to look into and it is not restricted into just a few things. When talking about Science, the sky is the limit and any person would be amazed at how thought-provoking it can be and how truly fascinating the world that we live in is. Science is a never ending learning experience and there is still so much out there to be discovered and because of Mr. Twardowski, I am motivated to explore beyond my boundaries and use Science as a guide to exploring the world.

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Classroom Q&A

With larry ferlazzo.

In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

‘My Online Learning Experience as a Student This Fall Has Been Great’

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(This is the final post in a multipart series. You can see Part One here and Part Two here .)

The question-of-the-week:

What has your online learning experience been as a student this fall? What is working for you and why? What is not working for you and why?

This series highlights contributions from students in my classes.

In Part One , Cathy Liu, Julia Yang, Eliseo Angulo Lopez, and Masihullah Shafiq shared their thoughts.

In Part Two , Luis Diaz, Samantha Nicole Vicedo, Cheyenne Lo, and Manpreet Rana contribute their commentaries.

Today, Lyna Nguyen, Nono Loek, and Rachel Anjel “wrap up” this series...

Teachers ‘have been really understanding’

Lyna Nguyen is a junior at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, Calif.

My online learning experience as a student this fall has been great. What’s working for me is I like the 40 minutes in class and 40 minutes asynchronous time to work on our assignments. I feel like teachers have been really understanding and helpful of what we’re going through and how difficult it can be. I find it more relaxing for me because everything is organized through Google Classroom, and it puts a little stress off of me because I disliked feeling disorganized and anxious.

What is not working for me is sometimes my time management is off, and it can be a little stressful how teachers assign work really close to the due date of other class assignments. I’d rather have the assignments’ due dates spread out throughout the week. Sometimes, there are technology difficulties, which can interrupt my learning experience. Everything is also online, so it can take a while communicating with teachers. Overall, communication is delayed, and it can be difficult reaching out to teachers and asking for assistance. Even when I need help with a certain assignment, it can be difficult learning and processing information through a screen. Other than that, I appreciate teachers trying their best to make everything work during this pandemic.

‘Internet classes save time’

Nono Loek is a senior at Luther Burbank High School:

In my experience with internet classes, the good far outweighs the bad. Internet classes save time, and saving time is important to me. The studies are structured much better than I expected. I don’t really see a difference between the online and offline structures. Group work is done in separate rooms, and I think it’s not that bad, because we also learn a lot in online classes.

I sometimes miss the interaction with people, making long-lasting friendships, which is extremely important for all of us. At home, it’s hard to force yourself to take a break. I think this pandemic has t probably transformed education. Most of the things we found to be impossible have now proven to be possible.

I actually really enjoy distance learning, but sometimes I want everything to go back to normal. I also like how I don’t have to wake up at 6 every morning. I like that with learning online, I can relax more, as well as think more. What I don’t like about online learning is that it can take me up to a whole school day (6-7 hours) to finish assignments.

‘I understand teachers are trying to keep us safe’

Rachel Anjel is a senior at Luther Burbank High School:

My online experience this year is kind of boring because I don’t really get to see friends in school anymore. And I thought it was going to be fun using Chromebooks. Sometimes it can be difficult because sometimes the Wi-Fi doesn’t work or it can be slow. I sometimes feel bored because I can’t spend or hang out with my friends.

A good thing is that we have this app called FaceTime, so whenever I’m bored, I can just call my friends. We talk and play while we do our homework and have fun. But at the same time, I think having an online school is bad because I hate sitting in my room the whole six hrs. I remember saying I like online school, but now it’s getting boring. I think it would be better if we went to school. But I understand teachers are trying to keep us safe.

Thanks to Lyna, Nono, and Rachel for their contributions!

Please feel free to leave a comment with your reactions to the topic or directly to anything that has been said in this post.

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

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Memorable Event in School Essay: Writing Tips + Ideas

Perhaps, each person has unforgettable memories of school life. It might be their first day when everything seemed to be exciting and unknown. Or it might be some picnic or trip when they spent a great day outside with their classmates.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

Writing a high school experience essay requires you to reflect on your past. Your personal narrative doesn’t have to rely on one interesting incident per se. You can write about a few stories. Or you can describe any memorable event in your school essay.

In this article, our Custom Writing team has prepared a memorable school days essay guide and topics for essays about high school experiences. Continue reading and find great tips and innovative ideas for your paper.

• ☝️ What to Include in Your High School Life Essay
• ⭐ Memorable Moment Essay Topics
• 📜 Unforgettable Memories of School Life: Essay Topics
• 📋 First Day of School Essay Topics & Other Experiences
• 🔍 Unique & Memorable Experience: Example Topics
• ❔ Why I Miss School: Essay Topics

⭐ Memorable Moment Essay Topics

Essays on school life often revolve around our favorite memories. And this is understandable—when people are asked about their school days, they often recall the most memorable parts of their school life with ease. Therefore, every person can write an essay talking about his or her favorite lesson, teacher, or moment. For example, you can write about your favorite subject in great detail. Or you could tell a story about how much you loved chemistry, math, or English when you were at school. Here’s a whole list of ideas:

• My favorite subject
• Why math was the best subject at school
• Why high school was my favorite
• My favorite teacher
• Why I loved sports in school
• Going to football games
• What my favorite teacher taught me
• My favorite moments
• Why primary school was the best time of my life
• My favorite time of day at school
• Why summer is great but school days are fun as well

📜 Unforgettable Memories of School Life: Essay Topics

Narrative essays that describe your unforgettable experiences can make your essay on school days stand out from the rest. After all, both funny and sad stories are unique and interesting to read. The stories may differ in their significance or seriousness, just as long as they have stayed in your mind to this day. You can talk about the happiest day of your life or about the most memorable moment of all time. Remember that everyone has good and bad times at school. Do not be afraid to share the difficult parts of your life and explain the reasons why school has changed you as a person.

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• Why I will always remember this day
• The day that changed my life
• My prom experience
• Spirit week stories
• How my expectations of school changed through the years
• How I got in trouble and what happened next
• The day I learned something new about myself
• Unforgettable situations from my school days
• Important lessons from high school
• Why high school changes everyone
• School knowledge that I still use to this day
• Getting a substitute teacher
• If only school days were longer
• How I made the biggest discovery of my life
• The story about my school days that I tell everyone
• The most memorable moment in school
• The best year of school
• The worst year of school
• What I remember about primary school
• My high school life experience
• The most interesting stories from my schoolmates
• School legends

📋 First Day of School Essay Topics & Other Experiences

First experiences stay in people’s hearts and minds for a long time. That is why the feeling of missing school days is normal for many of us. Reminisce about your first experiences at school and recall the aspects that made these situations so unforgettable. These moments may seem small to somebody else, but if you have many emotions connected to them, then do not hesitate to talk about these times in great detail. Read about the experiences of other people and compare your thoughts to theirs. For inspiration, check out these ideas:

• My first lesson
• What I remember about my first teacher
• My first day at school
• How I met my first friend at school
• My first crush
• My first breakup
• My first lunch
• My first exam
• My first dance
• The magic of prom

🔍 Unique & Memorable Experience: Example Topics

Every person who went through school had some unique ways of preparing for exams or completing tough projects. Why not share your amazing knowledge with the rest of the world? You can talk about your ways of getting the most out of your school days. Was there something that made answering hard questions simple? Did you have special ways of making friends? Talk about your experience and share your wisdom with everyone else:

• How to find friends on the first day of school
• Choosing the best classes to attend
• How to prepare for exams and remember everything
• How to get straight As
• Why making best friends in primary school is simple
• How to prepare for high school
• Learning from your mistakes

• Making the most of summer vacation and saving time to study
• How to finish every book on the list of required reading
• How to take notes
• My advice for dealing with stress
• Where to spend your time after school
• How to talk to teachers
• Creating the best school project
• The best places to spend time during the lunch break
• How to get the most out of every lesson
• What to expect from high school lessons
• How to deal with self-doubt
• Overcoming obstacles
• How to find your passion
• Choosing your future profession
• How I decided who I want to be when I grow up

❔ Why I Miss School: Essay Topics

Some experiences are good. Others, though, are so life-changing that you want to relive them over and over again. If you are one of the many people who think that school life is the best life, write an essay on school life that explores your feelings of wanting to go back to school. What makes you want to go back? Would you change something if you went back? Is there anything bittersweet about your memories of school? Here are some good topics related to this idea:

• School life is wonderful
• Memories of school days
• Missing school days
• Going back to school
• Why I miss primary school
• High school days are the best days of our lives
• What I remember from my days of high school
• Remembering the happiest moments of school
• The memorable moments that make me want to go back to school
• The importance of my school experience
• Why I will go to my high school reunion

Remember that while the topic is important, the quality of your writing is essential as well. Research the best essay writing techniques and tips, and then follow them for the best result. Moreover, you should try to avoid some of the most common mistakes . When in doubt, you can always refer to a custom writing service to get a high-quality paper!

Learn more on this topic:

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• Growing Up Essay: Great Ideas for Your College Assignment
• Childhood Memories Essay: Brilliant Writing Ideas
• Writing Essay about Someone Who has Made an Impact on Your Life
• Excellent Remembering a Person Essay: Free Writing Guidelines
• Life Experience Essay: How to Write a Brilliant Paper

🔗 References

• My School Days Essay
• My High School Reflections
• Essay about school days
• 7 Women Share The High School Experience That Helped Them Find Their Inner Strength
• 50 First-Time Experiences (Besides Sex) That We’ll Never Forget
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We came up with this guide to make school essay writing easy for you. Need some creative writing topics for grade 8? Or recommendations for the 11th-grade expository paper? We’ve got you! Helpful tips and essay topics for grades 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12— our Custom-writing.org team has advice for everyone. Here, you’ll find: 205 great essay ideas; tips on how to write argumentative and persuasive papers. In fact, our recommendations will be...

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I really loved every minute at my school.

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The La Salle Falconer

The High School Experience: A Personal Reflection

Filled with growth and life lessons, the high school experience has been a journey worth the climb.

Anna Waldron , Editor May 4, 2022

High school is arguably the most transformative time of a person’s life. My own experience has been filled with more memories, laughter, stress, and — most importantly, growth — than I ever could have anticipated when I began. 

The lessons I have learned about myself, about others, and about the world in the last four years have shaped who I am today, and that person is far from the naive 14-year-old girl who walked through those glass doors of La Salle nearly four years ago. I was oblivious to the overwhelming emotional distress that I would feel when I started high school. 

In some ways, it feels like an everyday battle. 

As a freshman, the struggle began with adjusting to what felt like a whole new world. I was desperately trying to make friends, considering I had only one. I never knew what it was like to feel alone in a school with so many people. I felt like I had to act a certain way or be a certain person in order to maintain a basic conversation with people in my classes or on my soccer team. 

Every day, my head was filled with an overwhelming concern about how I could manage to make myself look like someone with more friends than I actually had at the time. 

I remember constantly thinking, “I’ll start enjoying this at some point, right?” 

The truth is, I did. 

To anyone who is feeling the way I once felt, please know that those feelings do go away. By the end of my freshman year and into the next, I enjoyed myself. School wasn’t particularly challenging, and I was spending my weekends having fun with my friends and going to basketball games and sleepovers. I had finally created a routine and felt mostly content with my life, aside from daunting thoughts in my head telling me it was all a lie.

I think that’s something that all teenagers deal with. It comes with the age, the questions, “do my friends actually like me?” or “am I enough?” — “do people worry about me or have I tricked myself into thinking they do?” 

I continued to move throughout my sophomore year feeling a new level of comfort with my life. Then, the pandemic hit. 

The original two weeks of quarantine turned into two months, and then two years. The predictable high school experience I had become accustomed to was no longer my reality, and instead, high school turned into an atypical rollercoaster of isolation from all the essential parts of the experience. 

To say it was hard would be an understatement, but after the initial forced adjustment to a remote life, I was forced to be content without relying on others.

Without having to fear other people’s judgments of me or having to conceal myself in social situations to appear more “acceptable,” I gained independence and confidence within myself that I didn’t know existed.

Then finally — after over a year — the long-awaited return to school arrived. 

I rejoiced in my ability to thrive academically again and I was so relieved to feel like I was really learning. I reconnected with my friends, ate lunch outside, took finals, and then — after a blur of two months — the year ended. My junior year flew by like no other. 

When senior year rolled around, I felt out of place. I couldn’t imagine a world where I belonged to the oldest class at the school. In the beginning, it was odd getting used to, but after a few weeks, it was nothing but a thrill as I planned what the next weekend alongside my friends would hold. 

My friendships were flourishing and I was becoming closer and closer with people I had never really gotten to know. 

Unlike the three years prior, my senior year has felt like a stereotypical high school experience, and I could not be more grateful for it. 

I always thought of myself as someone who was above enjoying things like attending soccer games, getting ready for homecoming with my friends, singing karaoke in someone’s basement, or going to a trampoline park for an 18-year-old’s birthday party. 

The truth is, I’m not. 

I regret that I spent so long depriving myself of the things I love in order to fit a narrative that I created for myself. 

I love that I will graduate high school happier and more fulfilled than I ever felt during my other three years here. It feels like everything has finally come full circle, after all these years of feeling so alone. 

So yes, it was transformative. I am finally content with the person I have become and the life I have chosen to lead. I wouldn’t be the same without La Salle and I wouldn’t be the same without the people I’ve gotten to know here. 

I know that I will look back on my high school experience here, not feeling critical of the insecurities I have felt, but feeling grateful for the memories and lessons that came regardless of them. 

Senior Anna Waldron has lived in Portland, Oregon her whole life, in the same neighborhood as nine members of her extended family.  Outside of The...

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Essay on Unforgettable Childhood Memories

Students are often asked to write an essay on Unforgettable Childhood Memories in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Unforgettable Childhood Memories

My first bicycle ride.

I will never forget the day I learned to ride a bike. It was a bright, sunny morning. My dad held the back of the seat, running beside me. Suddenly, he let go, and I was riding on my own. The wind in my hair and the feeling of freedom were incredible. It was a moment of pure joy and achievement.

Building a Treehouse

Another unforgettable memory is building a treehouse with my best friend. We found old wood and borrowed tools from our parents. It took us days, but seeing our finished treehouse was amazing. It was our secret hideout for years.

Family Holidays

Family holidays were always special. Whether it was a trip to the beach or camping in the mountains, these times brought us closer. The excitement of exploring new places, the laughter, and the stories shared around a campfire are cherished memories. These moments made my childhood unforgettable.

250 Words Essay on Unforgettable Childhood Memories

Defining childhood memories.

Childhood memories are those special moments and experiences that shape and stay with us throughout our lives. They are like treasured photographs that help us relive the innocence and joy of being a child. These memories can range from simple everyday moments to extraordinary events that leave a lasting impression on our young minds.

A Tapestry of Moments

Every childhood is unique, and so are the memories that come with it. Some common themes that often emerge include family gatherings, holidays, playing with friends, exploring the outdoors, learning new things, and experiencing laughter and love. These moments may seem ordinary at the time, but they weave together to create a rich tapestry of memories that define our childhood.

Nostalgia and Reflection

As we grow older, the memories of our childhood often take on a nostalgic glow. We may find ourselves reminiscing about the past, longing for the simpler days when the world seemed full of wonder and possibility. Reflecting on these memories can bring a sense of comfort, warmth, and inspiration. They remind us of where we came from and the people who helped shape our lives.

Lessons Learned

Childhood memories are not just about fun and laughter. They also play a crucial role in teaching us valuable lessons about life. Through our experiences, we learn about friendship, empathy, resilience, and the importance of family and community. These lessons help us grow and develop as individuals and guide us as we navigate the challenges and joys of adulthood.

Unforgettable childhood memories are a precious gift that we carry with us throughout our lives. They are the foundation of our identity and the source of our strength and resilience. By cherishing and reflecting on these memories, we can stay connected to our inner child and the joy and wonder that comes with it.

500 Words Essay on Unforgettable Childhood Memories

Childhood: a time of wonder and adventure.

Childhood is a time of wonder and adventure, a time when the world is new and everything is possible. It is a time of laughter and joy, of friendship and exploration. It is a time that we will never forget.

The First Day of School

One of the most unforgettable childhood memories is the first day of school. This is the day when we leave the safety of home and venture out into the big, wide world. We meet new teachers, make new friends, and learn new things. It is a day that is both exciting and scary, but it is also a day that we will never forget.

Summer Vacations

Summer vacations are another unforgettable childhood memory. This is the time when we have no school and can spend our days playing with our friends, going on adventures, and exploring the world around us. We can swim in the pool, play in the park, or go on a road trip. These are the days that we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Family Vacations

Family vacations are also unforgettable childhood memories. This is the time when we get to spend time with our loved ones and create memories that will last a lifetime. We can go to the beach, the mountains, or the amusement park. We can play games, go for hikes, or just relax and enjoy each other’s company. These are the moments that we will cherish forever.

Friendships

Friendships are an important part of childhood. Friends are the people who make us laugh, cry, and everything in between. They are the people who we can always count on, no matter what. They are the people who make childhood so special.

Childhood is a time of wonder, adventure, laughter, and joy. It is a time that we will never forget. The memories that we make during childhood will stay with us for the rest of our lives. They will shape who we are as people and they will help us to remember the magic of being a child.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Unforgettable Birthday
• Essay on Unethical Behavior In The Workplace
• Essay on Understanding Culture Society And Politics

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Mentor texts

Telling Short, Memorable Stories From Your Life: ‘My Secret Pepsi Plot’

An invitation to students to tell a meaningful story in a limited number of words, with an example from The Times’s Lives column to help.

By Katherine Schulten

Our new Mentor Text series spotlights writing from The Times that students can learn from and emulate.

This entry, like several others we are publishing, focuses on an essay from The Times’s long-running Lives column to consider skills prized in narrative writing. We are starting with this genre to help support students participating in our 2020 Personal Narrative Essay Contest .

Our Personal Narrative Essay Contest is inspired by The New York Times’s Lives column, which ran from 1996 to 2017 and featured “short, powerful stories about meaningful life experiences .”

The editor of the column once posted some advice on “How to Write a Lives Essay” to guide those who submitted to the column annually. Much of that advice applies to our contest as well.

For example, several points boil down to reminders to keep it simple, including tips like:

Don’t try to fit your whole life into one “Lives.”

Don’t try to tell the whole story.

Tell a small story — an evocative, particular moment.

Better to start from something very simple that you think is interesting (an incident, a person) and expand upon it, rather than a large idea that you then have to fit into a short essay. For example, start with “the day the Santa Claus in the mall asked me on a date” rather than “the state of affairs that is dating in an older age bracket.”

This advice is similar to advice often given to high school seniors writing college essays : You have only 650 words to show admissions officers something important, interesting or memorable about who you are and what matters to you. A list of awards you’ve won won’t do it, but an engaging story about making brownies with your stepbrother just might.

As you’ll see when you read the texts below, none of them try to tell the whole story of a life, but, instead, illuminate an important aspect of it through focus on one event or moment. Yet that one focus ripples out, and says so much more.

Before You Read

Use the sentence starter below to write for a few minutes about whatever comes to mind. You will return to this writing in the “Now Try This” section.

A moment I’ll never forget from my childhood is …

Mentor Text: ‘ My Secret Pepsi Plot ,’ a 2014 Essay From the Lives Column, by Boris Fishman

This essay describes a memory from when the writer was 10 years old and his family had just immigrated from the Soviet Union to Brooklyn. “In the Soviet Union, we were secretly wealthy, but we arrived in Brooklyn as paupers,” he writes.

Somehow, his family ends up with 24 Pepsi-Colas in their refrigerator. The story of what happens next is Mr. Fishman’s short, powerful story:

Around this time I learned that American supermarkets gave back 5 cents for every returned empty. (Some states, like Michigan, its very name like a granite monument, gave you 10 cents.) I decided I would return those cans and give the money to my parents. My secret — a surprise.

Read the essay, focusing on how Mr. Fishman anchors the whole story in this one goal he had at age 10 — to return the Pepsi cans and get money for them.

As you read, you might trace the structure of the story. What does each paragraph do? What does each add to the telling of this small story?

Then, consider these questions:

How do the first two paragraphs set the stage for the story and give some necessary background?

How does telling this story allow the writer to show readers a particular time and place through the eyes of a new immigrant?

How does he pull you into the action, minute by minute, in the three paragraphs that begin “On Saturday afternoon …”?

How is money a theme throughout, in both stated and implied ways? What other ideas recur?

What is the role of the last paragraph?

Now Try This: Find Your Own Short, Powerful Stories

Look back at the writing you did before reading the mentor text. What is strongest about it? Could it become a short essay like the one you just read? If so, what would you need to do to shape it?

What other small stories — or “evocative, particular moments” — from your life might make wonderful short essays?

In a 2010 lesson plan, “ Going Beyond Cliché: How to Write a Great College Essay ,” we suggest students first make a timeline of their lives, or of one period in their lives, brainstorming at least 20 events, big and small, that were significant to them for any reason.

You might try that, or you can brainstorm answers to this list of prompts — or both:

-A time I took a risk: -A time I learned something about myself: -A memory from childhood I think about often: -Something that happened to me that still makes me laugh: -Something very few people know about me: -Something I regret: -A time when I felt rejected: -Something I am really proud of: -Something that changed the way I think or look at the world: -How I am different from most people I know: -Some of my fears: -A time I felt truly satisfied: -A time I failed at something: -An object I own that tells a lot about me:

Once you’ve chosen a topic, you might try to free-write for 10 minutes or so, asking yourself as you go: What was most interesting or memorable about this? What images come to mind when you think about this topic? Do you picture a person, a scene, a place? Do you hear a conversation or a bit of music? Do you smell, taste or feel something?

Finally, if you are still stuck, we have a list of prompts from our site that can inspire narrative writing . Take a look and see if any of them spark ideas for you.

More Mentor Texts for Telling Short, Memorable Stories

While the entire Lives column is devoted to “short, powerful stories,” the pieces we chose below are especially student-friendly in terms of both their subject matter and the way the writers focus on “an evocative, particular moment.” Below each title, an excerpt from the piece.

“ How Ramen Got Me Through Adolescence ,” a 2014 Lives essay, by Veronique Greenwood

When I was in fifth grade, I developed an intense dislike of eating around other people. The cafeteria was a place of foul odors, gelatinous spills, horrific mixtures of chocolate pudding, fruit cocktail and ketchup consumed on dares, and I found myself fasting from breakfast, at about 6 in the morning, until 3:35, when I walked home through the woods from the bus stop. Each step up our hill, a narrow ridge in rural California, I fantasized about the big bowl of ramen I would make myself when I reached the top.

“ Charmed ," a 2015 Lives essay, by Laila Lalami

‘‘Wait,’’ I said. From my pocket I pulled out a brown suede pouch bearing the name of a little jeweler in Rabat, the kind of place you send your friends to and say, tell him I sent you. In the pouch was a necklace with a silver khamsa — a charm in the shape of an open palm.

“ Montana Soccer-Mom Moment ,” a 2010 essay from the Lives column, by Laura Munson

I live in northwest Montana, and I have a teenager, and my teenager plays sports. That means a lot of driving — over-the-Rocky-Mountains-and-back-in-one-day kind of driving. I think about Meriwether Lewis every time I cross the Continental Divide, usually with sleeping soccer players wearing headphones in the back of my Suburban. I want to say, “Can you imagine everything depending on your horse and your ability to dream of an ocean past the mountains?” But it isn’t worth the eye-rolling.

“ All the Single Ladies ," a 2014 essay from the Lives column, by Jen Doll

“Single ladies to the dance floor!” came the cry, a masculine voice urging us forward. Wedding guests parted, creating a narrow path for the train of unmarried women to parade through in their finery. But we single ladies no longer looked so fine as we had that morning. We were worn and tired, sweat beading down our necks, sand crunching unpleasantly in our shoes, which were wearing raw the backs of our heels. We should have been lying down in cool rooms elsewhere, but the wedding was not over. We were 28. We knew what was next.

“ Working the Reunion ,” a 2008 essay from the Lives column, by ZZ Packer

My residential college always hosted the 45th reunion, one of the most well attended, I suppose because you just might not be around for the 50th. To my eyes, these guys were the picture of old money. Although they may have mastered physics or appraised the sharp beauty of “King Lear” in school, at reunions they reminisced about football glories and practical jokes. I sometimes felt less like a Yale co-ed who happened to be black than a black waitress who happened to be bringing them an extra fork. But after their dinner we reunion workers would drink up all the leftover bottles of wine while cleaning the dining hall.

Related Questions for Any Short, Narrative Essay

What is the one small moment or event this piece focuses on? Why do you think the writer might have chosen it?

What do you learn about the writer and his or her world through this moment or event? How? What lines do this well? What is implied rather than stated?

How is the piece structured? What does each paragraph do? How does each contribute to the story?

Look closely at how the writer tells a complete story in a limited number of words. Where, in terms of time and place, does the story begin? Where does it end? How does the writer weave in necessary background even while keeping the action of the story moving forward?

What else do you notice or admire about this essay? What lessons might it have for your own writing?

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Stories About the Extraordinary Educators in Your Life

‘He Helped Foster a Love for Science in Me’

From storm alexander.

Mark Townley was my AP Environmental Science teacher. Not only did he teach the content, he provided resources and materials to make class fun. Labs done in class were always engaging and related to the course topics. He now works with Kenan Fellows at NC State, a program for teacher leadership. Mr. Townley was not only a very open and accepting teacher towards me, but he helped foster a love for science in me. Previously, I had been interested in arts, but had no passion. When I attended his class, Mr. Townley helped me really gain a love and interest in science, even if it wasn’t exactly his field. In the end, he helped lead me to the career path I have chosen today.

‘She Helped Me to Discover Myself as a Student’

From elizabeth baker.

One teacher that has had a lasting impact on my life was my 6th-8th grade Language Arts teacher. She introduced me to many of my favorite books, like “The Outsiders,” and helped me to discover myself as a student. She also made me work for every assignment that I complete for her; along with this, she helped me to grow as a writer. Because of her, I discovered several joys of learning and how to start a spark of learning within my own students.

‘She Fostered a Respect and Reflected it Back to Her Students’

From maggie latta-milord.

My seventh grade language arts teacher was a force. She fostered a respect and reflected it back to her students. She taught diverse authors and poets to a diverse class of students. She held students to a high standard while giving us the resources and instruction needed to reach that standard. She made us recite poetry throughout the year, and I will never forget the unique challenge of having to remember each word. There is a lot from my middle school years I have forgotten, but I still remember some of those poems today. I remember that special kind of seventh-grader awkwardness we each showed as we stood in front of the class when it was our turn to stumble through a performance of that particular week’s selection. I remember the reactions of peers when you missed a line or the celebration when you really nailed it. Yet, for Ms J-W, it was never enough for us to repeat exactly the words of the poem. We were meant to convey the emotion, meant to hold the words with reverence.

‘She Changed the Way That I Carried Myself Through Life’

From taylor ratledge.

My high school chorus teacher, Heather Copley, changed the way that I carried myself through life. Even though my career has nothing to do with performance, taking her class taught me about self-discipline, taking risks, and making friends.

On my future best friend’s first day at a new school, Ms. Copley grabbed me and told me that I was sitting with the new girl during lunch because she didn’t want her eating alone. From that day on, we had lunch together every day. I was the maid of honor at her wedding, which Ms. Copley attended.

Ms. Copley has always had an amazing way of making you feel important because she gives her students an incredible amount of responsibility and trusts them to do what is right. For example, she takes huge groups of students on international field trips regularly, which, as a high school teacher, I can’t ever imagine doing.

Finally, Ms. Copley has always been honest about who she is and what she stands for. I have maintained a relationship with her since graduating high school in 2007, and she’s never changed. I tutored her son, she attended my wedding, and we like to get lunch during the holidays. I appreciate so much how she pours into her relationships with her students and continues those relationships as long as she can.

‘Her Course Impacted Me by Showing Me How Important it is to Maintain and Value Your Personal Ethics’

From the’shaun jones.

Carrol Warren is one of the extraordinary educators from NC State’s Education Department that I would like to to acknowledge. What makes her extraordinary is her knowledge and expertise of Ethics in the Workplace and Education. This was the first course I took from the Training and Development Master’s of Education Program, and it was the perfect class to begin my Graduate tenure. This course impacted me by showing me how important it is to maintain and value your personal ethics and to carry those morals into your professional development. Thanks Dr. Warren.

‘She Instilled a Love for Spanish in Me’

From nicole hackett.

My favorite teacher in high school was Sra. Hammond. I had her for Spanish 4 and I loved her so much that I decided I wanted to become a Spanish teacher just like her – and I did! She instilled a love for Spanish in me that I wanted to share with all my students. My fondest memories in her class are Fridays where we would listen to Shakira in Spanish! I taught Spanish for 9 years because of Sra. Hammond.

‘He Instilled in Me and My Brother a Lifelong Appreciation of Music and Culture That Enriches Us to this Day’

From larry bliss.

I have an extraordinary educator in my family: my father, Milton C. Bliss. He taught music at NC State for 26 years, leading the Varsity Men’s Glee Club and the Grains of Time a capella group, as well as co-directing the marching band. He expected the utmost from his students, and many of them went on to careers in music as performers and teachers. He instilled in me and my brother (both State grads) a lifelong appreciation of music and culture that enriches us to this day. Although he is 92, he remembers many of his students from 50 years ago.

‘Her Passion for Science was Infectious and I Give all the Credit to Her for Why I Decided to Become a Science Teacher’

From kristen blau.

An extraordinary educator I know is Heidi Maloy, my high school biology, chemistry, & APES teacher. She is still the best teacher I’ve ever had the pleasure of learning from. She was patient, kind, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable, always able to answer any question I asked. I was lucky enough to be able to take three courses with her throughout high school. AP Environmental Science was my favorite, and taking that course with her is largely why I am so passionate about environmental advocacy and literacy. I am presently working on becoming a certified Environmental Educator. Her passion for science was infectious and I give all the credit to her for why I decided to become a science teacher. My ultimate goal as a teacher is to inspire young people to want to make a difference in the world and in other people’s lives. That is what Ms. Maloy did for me. Beyond teaching me science, she was also my advisor senior year. She was a great listener and was always there for me when I needed someone to talk to or needed advice. I will be forever grateful for getting to have her as a teacher. She is truly one of a kind.

‘They Were in Education Because They Cared About the Students’

From anna burgess.

When thinking about the past educators in my life who have really impacted me and my time in school, two people come to mind. First is my junior and senior English teacher. She was an extraordinary educator because she was willing to answer hard questions and have difficult conversations in the classroom. She didn’t shy away from questions about the real world and actually welcomed them at times. She also made it known that she would accept her students for who they are, she was not going to judge you, but instead wanted to help. She helped give me new perspectives on life. She taught me how to put myself in the other person’s shoes and to look for the deeper meaning in things. The second teacher that came to my mind was my chorus teacher. I was a part of his class all four years of high school. He was always encouraging us to do our best and had high expectations for us in both academics and just in being an overall human being. He was supportive and made it known that he was there if anyone needed to talk or just have a place to escape. He helped me build my confidence in not only my voice but also in who I am as a person. Both of these educators are extraordinary because they made it very obvious that they were in education because they cared about the students, not about checking a “how to be a good person” box off their checklist.

‘I Wouldn’t Be Where I Am Today Without Them’

From megan north.

I am a high school history teacher because of my 8th grade and 11th grade history teachers. They showed me how to love learning, help others, and hold students to high standards. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

‘She Impacted My Life Through Her Encouragement, Her Passion and Her Leadership’

From emma schneider.

Mrs. Sanders is extraordinary because she not only cares about the education of every one of her students, but she truly cares about every one of her students as an individual. She is relational, yet demands respect. She is intelligent, yet knows how to make class fun. She knows how to communicate tough ideas to a variety of different learners and help them understand at a deeper level. Mrs. Sanders helps others do the extraordinary by expressing genuine interest in their lives and pushing them toward their passions. She is the reason I applied for (and received) acceptance to the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. The more I learn about incorporating digital tools in the classroom and navigating keeping students engaged in a lesson, the more I realize how ahead of the game Mrs. Sanders was in these areas. I never suffered boredom in her class, and she was always using some sort of digital tool in her lessons that continue to benefit me in my teacher education. She impacted my life through her encouragement, her passion, and her leadership, and I will always be grateful for her influence.

‘She Can Challenge AP Students and Support Struggling Students’

From kristi martin.

I taught with June Blackwell at Sanderson High School for a year and I was consistently amazed by her. She can challenge AP students and support struggling students. She works so hard to reach all her students and help them to be successful in her math classes, using a variety of strategies to allow all her students to showcase what they have learned. She also supports teachers at the state level and has mentored multiple student teachers from NC State. I am proud to call her a colleague and friend.

‘I Realized I Wanted to Have the Same Impact on People’s Lives that He Had on Mine’

From michael smith.

Mr. Hunsucker was my 8th grade math and science teacher. He was such a caring person who treated his students like we were his own children. His lessons, activities, and projects also took what we learned in the classroom outside the classroom. It was in Mr. Hunsucker’s class that I began to see how what I learned in school really effected my everyday life. When I was deciding what I wanted to do in life I realized I wanted to have the same impact on peoples’ lives that Mr. Hunsucker had on mine. If it was not for Mr. Hunsucker I would not have gotten into education. I owe so much to Mr Hunsucker he is hands down the best teacher in the world.

‘I Can Still Remember His Smile and Love for all of Biology’

From manny flecker.

Robert Tollman was my high school biology teacher in New York. He continually made the subject fascinating for me and drew me into it with his clearly apparent love of biology. He encouraged us to read, did not slay us with “homework”, kept his classes upbeat and showed an interest in his students and subject. He encouraged me though did not push – not his style. I can still remember his smile and love for all of biology.

‘She Made Learning a Challenging Subject Rewarding’

From dorothy holley.

An extraordinary educator in my life has been my high school chemistry teacher, Lavonda Ritchie. She made learning a challenging subject rewarding. She modeled being a life-long learner, bringing back new labs from summer “vacations,” participating in new competitions that seemed interesting, and engaging in new experiences while encouraging us to do the same. After I graduated from college and became a high school chemistry teacher in a nearby county, Ms. Ritchie continued to mentor me by loaning me equipment to use with my students and inviting me to NCSTA events. I will always be indebted to Ms. Ritchie for nurturing my love of science and for believing that the quiet girl in the back of the room could really cook with that bunsen burner! Thank you Ms. Ritchie!!

‘Her Passion for Education is the Reason Why I Have a Voice for Public Education’

From zainab bhatti.

I have had several educators in life who have made a positive impact in my life. Today, I will be talking about one specific educator who changed my life for the better. I knew I wanted to be a teacher since the second grade. However, I was constantly discouraged by my teachers and family because I could amount to so much more and of course, the number one excuse, the pay is terrible. In my sophomore year of high school, I met my forever mentor. Mrs. Suzanne Hudson was my civics and economics teacher at the time. We learned so much more than just that subject. She taught us something I will never forget. Do what you want to do as long as it makes you happy. After that, I had Mrs. Hudson every year until the day I graduated. Mrs. Hudson was also my AP government teacher and Teacher Cadet 1 & 2 teacher. I also interned for Mrs. Hudson my senior year. I learned to love what I will be doing and not caring what other people think. The creativity in her classrooms is what inspired me to start my love for art again. Without the guidance, unconditional love, and support from her, I would not be here in the college of education at NC State. I would be lost trying to figure out what it is I should be doing. I am so thankful for everything I have learned from her. Mrs. Hudson is extraordinary in everything she does. Her passion rubs off on her students and it shows. We are always inspired by her stories to do the extraordinary in everything we work on. Her love for education is the reason why I am here today. Her passion for education is the reason why I have a voice for public education. I am extraordinary.

‘He Consistently Showed That He Cared Even More About Me as an Individual Than He Did as a Student’

From spencer griffith.

Ben Thomas for AP Government my senior year of high school and the way he interacted with students has tremendously influenced my teaching. He had great content-area knowledge and knew how to make class engaging (I’ll never forget our class-wide debates every week), but more importantly, he consistently showed that he cared even more about me as an individual than he did as a student. As an aside, he allowed me to miss class to volunteer in his wife’s first grade class once per week, which showed me early on that I was NOT cut out to be an elementary school teacher.

‘She Distinguished Herself with a Very Compassionate Heart and Patience for Young Children’

From kari kuebel.

I had the privilege of having Olivia Loftin Ellington as a student in Elementary Ed 250 years before she became my daughter’s kindergarten teacher (and now my son’s!) Olivia was a gifted student, distinguishing herself with a very compassionate heart and patience for young children. She launched my daughter into a love of school by treating her as a unique person with her own set of gifts, thoughts and even worries. This demonstration of unconditional positive regard with high expectations has traveled with my daughter throughout her schooling, and she is now excelling in third grade, due in a large part to Olivia. THANK YOU.

‘She Challenged and Encouraged Me to Rise and Exceed the Expectations Put on Me’

From lydia stocks.

Mrs. Wheless was an extraordinary educator! As a fourth grader she saw in me potential that no one else had. She challenged and encouraged me to rise to and exceed the expectations put on me academically – specifically in the writing content area. Eventually, I’d recognize her as a primary reason to become an educator myself!

‘She Inspired Me to Be a teacher Because I Wanted to Be Just Like Her’

From susan beasley.

I have had the privilege of engaging with many extraordinary educators in my life, as both a student and now a teacher. The most extraordinary though, has been my mother. She received a degree in Business Education from UNCG and was a public high school teacher with Greensboro City Schools and Guilford County Schools for over 30 years. Following her retirement from Guilford County, she continues to teach continuing education courses through GTCC. While I was never a student in her school classroom, I was (and still am) a student in her “classroom of life.” My mom is amazing. She always encouraged me to do my best, helped me through the struggles, and celebrated my successes. I also have had the opportunity to know some of the students she did have in class, and they always told me how much they loved her classes. She always cares and puts the needs of others first. She inspired me to be a teacher because I wanted to be just like her!

‘She Believes in Her Students When They Don’t Believe in Themselves’

From devon rose.

Dr. Candy Beal is an extraordinary educator. She is kind, caring, and patient. She believes in her students when they don’t believe in themselves. She is encouraging and pushes her students to be the very best they can be. She gives practical, realistic advice to her students that we can then give to our own students. I wouldn’t be the educator I am today if it weren’t for Dr. Beal’s steadfast kindness and grace.

‘She Motivated Me to Want to Better Myself, Especially in My Education’

From grace mcgovern.

My teacher in high school was one of the most memorable educators I have ever had. I was very unmotivated to “try” in school because other students had been bullying me. When Mrs. Barber came, she came with an infectious energy and took me under her wing. She motivated me to want to better myself, especially in my education. I still keep in contact with her and now I am in school to become a teacher.

‘She Has Impacted My Life by Inspiring Me to Become a Teacher Myself and Making Me Feel Proud About the Art I Created’

From sophie moffatt.

The most extraordinary educator in my life was my art teacher from high school. I was lucky enough to have her all 4 years so she really helped me grow as a student and a person, while also fostering my passion for art. She became a constant throughout my high school career and she was a personable and trusting adult figure in my life. She was unlike other teachers I’ve had because she fully put her students first and made sure that her classroom was a welcoming and accepting environment for everyone that came in her door. I admire her teaching style based on discussion and feedback, while also empowering one another. She helps others be extraordinary by making students feel proud of the work they accomplish and creating personal connections so the students knew she cared and wanted only the best for us. She has impacted my life in many ways, by inspiring me to become a teacher myself and also making me feel so proud about the art I created. She made her class a safe space for me and made art feel like home and a way to cope with stress or emotions. I cannot thank her enough for how she has transformed me as a student, artist and person.

‘I Want to Run My Classroom the Way She Ran Hers’

From garin sinkovic.

My second-grade teacher Ms. Clifton was the best teacher I’ve ever had. I was lucky enough that she ended up moving up to third-grade the following year so I had her for two years in a row. What I loved about her was that she made learning fun. I always enjoyed coming to school every day and I always had fun in class while still learning the material. She is the reason that I want to become an elementary school teacher. I want learning to be fun, I want my kids to enjoy coming to school every day and I want to be the cool teacher that all the kids want to be around during the school day. Ms. Clifton embodied all those qualities of kindness, passionate, dedicated, and was so much fun. I want to run my classroom the way Ms. Clifton ran hers.

‘She Pushed Me to Become the Best Version of Myself’

From lexi chadwick.

My seventh and eight grade social studies and language arts teacher was amazing. She saw my potential in my life when it came to reading and writing and she pushed me to to become the best version of myself. Not only was she an amazing educator, but she then became an important mentor in my life. I don’t think I would have been able to navigate the rest of middle school without her being there for me through the ups and downs. Mrs. Glow – you are an inspiration to this world and especially to me.

‘She Makes Every Student Feel Like a True Scientist and That They Can Be Anything They Wish to Be’

From mckenzie alford.

My extraordinary educator is Mrs. Jessica Potter, a biology teacher at East Wake Academy in Zebulon, NC. She has always been a teacher to push students to do their best. She always has a smile on her face for her current and former students when they come to visit. She teaches academic/honors/AP biology so she really knows her stuff but her humbleness shines through it all. She makes every student feel like a true scientist and that they can be anything they wish to be. She honestly is the person who inspired me to become a science teacher. She has helped me even in my college years understand science topics, lesson plans, mental health plans, and overall the beautiful chaos that come with the job of teaching. She is and always will the most extraordinary teacher that has impacted my life.

‘She Invested in Me Away from the Classroom’

From kentellia wingate.

My 1st grade teacher, Ms. Gail Hutchinson is my EXTRAordinary educator! She taught me to keep working hard, even when learning new things was challenging. She also invested in me away from the classroom. One of my fondest memories of Ms. Hutchinson is that she found me during my senior year of high school. She took me to dinner and  bought the dress that I wore to graduation. I am thankful for her role in my educational foundation, which contributed to my academic success, and eventually allowed me to be a Teaching Fellow at NC State! I am currently in my 17th year as an educator. c/o ‘03

‘She Ignited a Passion for Reading in Me and Showed Me a few Books That Have had a Profound Impact on my Life’

From eric wylie.

The most extraordinary educator in my life was my 5th grade teacher, Ms Clabbatz. She stressed reading, literature, and comprehension more than anything else and showed us how, through sufficient reading abilities, we could teach ourselves anything. She ignited a passion for reading in me and showed me a few books that have had a profound impact on my life. She also was extremely encouraging and was really good at forming relationships with each and every student in the class. If anyone was ever struggling, she was able to give them the support they needed to understand the concept without neglecting the rest of the class. She’s definitely my role model as I pursue becoming an elementary teacher in the WCPSS.

‘I Don’t Know How He Does it All’

From jennifer lancaster.

Dr. James Bartlett of NC State mentored our entire doctoral cohort in the most extraordinary way. He took us to conferences, co-presented with us, co-wrote papers and articles with us, gave us career advice, and continues to be in touch with us about upcoming opportunities. Dr. Bartlett does so much in the field of career and technical education as well as in adult and community college education. I don’t know how he does it all!

“Without Her Knowledge and Love of Her Career, I Would Never Have Made it This Far or Have the Drive That I Do’

From marsha creekmore.

When we had our son he was diagnosed at a young age with autism. Over the years he has had so many amazing teachers to help support him and us as a family grow. The educator that has made the biggest impact was his early intervention educator. Without her knowledge and love for her career I would never have made it this far or have the drive that I do. Thank you Megan Haley.

‘She Pushed Me to Go Beyond Just Learning for School to Learning for Life and Being a Leader’

From ashley atkinson.

Extraordinary teachers push you to grow and go beyond even your own expectations of yourself. My third-grade teacher, Mrs. Drake, pushed me to go beyond just learning for school to learning for life and being a leader. She provided me with books and enrichment that allowed me to go beyond the content requirements and learn for the sake of learning. When I expressed an interest in architecture she helped me gather resources to learn and then helped me lead a walking tour of our community architecture sharing with my classmates. She helped me own my learning and share it with others. She inspired me to become a teacher.

‘Her Positive Attitude Encourages Me Everyday to Be the Same Way to My Students’

From brooke gupton.

I had a first grader teacher who inspired me to become a teacher. She was kind, caring, and was always happy to be a teacher. When I had fallen on the playground, I ran over to her and she had asked me if I was still going to be able to swim (because I was taking swim lessons). The fact that she remembered that small detail about me, it showed that she cared. Her positive attitude encourages me everyday to be the same to my students!

‘Her Compassion for Herself and Her Peers was Evident’

From tracey gardner.

As an undergraduate accounting student at UNC-Charlotte, I had a political science professor named Dr. Cheryl Brown. I only had her for one class, but she was truly extraordinary.

What made her extraordinary was that she brought her own experiences from when she was as a young Black woman into the classroom and painted pictures for us of how the political landscape impacted her and her friends. Her compassion for herself and her peers was evident.  This made the class much more vivid and showed me, at a young age, how laws make a difference in Americans’ lives.

Now, as a M.Ed. student in school counseling at NC State, I think about Dr. Brown as my cohort looks at the concept of self-disclosure. When done well, self-disclosure is an extremely powerful tool for connection and teaching. – Tracey Gardner, M.Ed. 2021

‘He Really Inspired Me to Come to NC State’

From giovanny hernandez.

An extraordinary educator that I have encountered has to be Mr. Martin. He is an NC State Alumni that was teaching math at my high school, who really inspired me to come to NC State as I wanted to be a great educator like him. He just made sure that everyone in the class was up to par on the lesson and took the time to help the students that were falling behind.

‘I Will Never Forget That Wonderful Year of Honors Senior British Literature’

From robert williams.

When I was in high school I had an English teacher by the name of William Loftin Hargrave III. He was a disarmingly charming elderly gentleman who had served in the military working on computer systems in helicopters. This man was an uncoronated king of British lit.

Sometimes you meet people you just know could have been famous stage actors, well Mr. Hargrave should have been on a stage somewhere with his incredible knowledge of Shakespeare and similar works. But instead, he had a lively classroom where he would encourage us to bring the characters to life and attempt to read between the lines to really figure out what the characters, or even Shakespeare, was trying to say. All the classroom was a stage.

Mr. Hargrave taught us so much about human nature and expression and gave that informal permission so many closeted writers and dramatists need to let their freak flags fly and truly explore themselves through writing. I will never forget that wonderful year of Honors Senior British Literature.”

‘He Was a Model of the Math Teacher That I Became’

From marc kasten.

My teacher, Mr. Tom Taylor, of Avery County High School, is a great example of an educator. For three years, I took math courses with him, and he put up with my terrible notebooks and homework assignments. Mr. Taylor took the time to get to know all of his students. He was willing to go off-book to make math interesting, and he was a model of the math teacher that I became.

‘He is Committed to Being Available Within a Demanding Schedule of Classes, Meetings and Supporting Other Students’

From curtis brower.

Dr. Timothy Drake has been an extraordinary dissertation chair. He has been extremely helpful through the research and writing process. He is very responsive and is always willing to provide prompt feedback. Dr. Drake has been committed to meeting with me on a regular ongoing basis providing support and guidance. Dr. Drake is committed to being available within a demanding schedule of classes, meetings, and supporting other students. I am very appreciative of his commitment to help me succeed.

‘He Affirmed My Talents as a Student and Future Leader’

From kimberly kemp.

Dr. Rick Taylor at ECU is a professor in the English Department at ECU and taught several of my classes in my master’s program there. He was the first person to make me believe I could go beyond getting my master’s degree. Not only did he lead by example by sharing his stories, but he kindled a curiosity that led to me pursuing more information about the doctoral program that led me to NCSU. He affirmed my talents as a student and future leader.

‘She Showed Me How Fun and Exciting Education Can Be’

From molly feezor.

I know an educator that makes all students feel loved. You never walk into her classroom and have to think about whether or not she wants you there. She validates your concerns and struggles as a student but pushes you to go further and do your best, and is happy with whatever your best is as long as it’s your best. This educator supported us in our endeavors and always encouraged greatness. As middle schoolers and later high schoolers, this teacher was always the first person you wanted to go to for advice, validation, encouragement, or just for a smile. She taught the sixth grade but never stopped considering us to be her students. She was the first person we went to when we moved to high school and she was the first person that we went back to visit before graduating high school. This teacher showed me how fun and exciting education can be and that feeling loved in your school is a vital part of your success as a student.

‘She Not Only Taught but She Helped Me Live’

From anne johnson.

I have had many different teachers for different subjects. What makes Mrs. Paul extraordinary is that she not only taught but she helped me live. As a previous early college student, balancing the act of college classes and high school classes is difficult, but having a teacher who tries to helps everyone excel at both, along with being able to talk through the stresses of life with them, is a blessing. Thank you Mrs. Paul, for helping me get into the Pack!

‘She Had the Ability to Make Literature Come Alive’

From shannon clemons.

I have had so many great educators in my life. Mrs. Betty Blackburn was my senior English teacher. Mrs. Blackburn made me love literature to the point that I briefly though about majoring in English Education instead of Science Education. I moved forward with science, however, Mrs. Blackburn had the ability to make literature come alive. As a classroom teacher, I desired to make learning come alive for students. It was important to not just teach, but to make learning meaningful. When I became a principal in Catawba County, Mrs. Blackburn had retired from teaching, but served on the county school board. She still remembered me and talked about the joy of having me in her class. She encouraged me and was a source of support. Mrs. Blackburn has now retired from the school board. I keep up with her through Facebook. She still comments on pictures that I post and does the same with the many students she has taught. Betty Blackburn’s influence and impact did not stop after the time spent in her classroom. I still receive her encouraging words through social media. She is still loved and adored by so many of her former students, including me.

‘He Brought Us Into His Own Journey as a Student’

From matthew henry.

I was a junior in high school. Flint, Michigan. My math teacher that year was Sven Anderson who ultimately influenced my path to become a teacher. Sven had a relaxed classroom approach that made even the most math-anxious student feel at ease. His calm, nurturing demeanor was completely infectious in the classroom. One thing in particular about him that struck me was that he brought us into his own journey as a student. At the time, he was doing graduate work at the University of Michigan. As we struggled in his class, he told about his graduate class struggles — but not in the condescending and finger-wagging “oh, you think you have it hard?” way that other teachers did. Instead, he let us see him as a human being, and not the facade of the infallible adult that so many other teachers created over my years. That, and his laid back personality created a sense of interdependence in his classroom — like we were all in things together, just at different levels of skill and complexity. That ability to connect to students on a human level has guided my own teaching practice — always stay grounded and don’t be afraid to let students see and know the person behind the facade.

‘They Believe That All Students are Capable of Success’

From catie acitelli.

I taught high school math for six years prior to coming back to NC State to pursue a PhD in mathematics. And during my six years teaching in the Charlotte area, I worked alongside the most incredible educators. The math department at Providence High School was (and still is) doing great work. They work well together to deliver exceptional educational experiences to students of all backgrounds; they meet students where they’re at and push them to realize their potential; they support students in their extra curricular activities and get to know students as individuals; they believe that all students are capable of success, and they treat everyone with that respect. The math team at PHS left a great impression on me, as I am constantly encouraged by them as educators.

‘He Worked Tirelessly to Ensure the Success of His Students’

From jana hunter.

My high school agriculture teacher was a truly extraordinary educator. He worked tirelessly to ensure the success of his students, his school, and his FFA chapter. He saw my leadership potential and gave me the opportunity to serve as chairman for our Parliamentary Procedure team — a role that led my teammates and I to compete at the National FFA Convention this October. Three years later, I have also chosen to pursue a career in agricultural education — a decision that I never would have considered without the unmatched influence that this educator had on my life.

‘She Has Always Believed in Me and Has Always Been a Strong Influence in My Life’

From brittany kennon.

My fourth grade teacher Mrs. Dana Bottomley was an extraordinary educator for me and she continues to be extraordinary for her students today. She was always organized and on top of everything, she put together really fun lesson plans, she was always in a positive mood, and she always encouraged us to do our best. She has always believed in me and has always been a strong influence in my life. I consider her to be one of my greatest role models. She’s a really close friend of mine now and we stay in touch. She even has been to a lot of my family events, like my Baptism a few years ago! I think what makes her stand out from the rest of my teachers is her love for not only me but for all of her students and how she is always supportive of us even outside of the classroom. She was my teacher almost ten years ago and she still holds that special place in my heart.

‘She Instilled a Deep Love of Reading and Learning in Me That Never Really Left’

From whitney white.

The most extraordinary educator I ever had was my first-grade teacher at Union Elementary School in Shallotte, NC. Her name is Amy Watkins, and she instilled a deep love of reading and learning in me that never really left. All throughout my K-12 education, when I thought about what I wanted to do with my life, I knew I wanted to be a teacher like Ms. Amy. She taught us how to take pride in ourselves, how to work together, and how finding just the right book can take you to another dimension.

I had many other amazing teachers who taught more rigorous content than what I learned in Ms. Amy’s class, but none of that compared to the love and nurturing that she provided. It was because of her that, as a teacher, I understood why developing relationships was so essential.

The best part is, I still see Ms. Amy every time I go home to visit my family — and I still remind her of what a difference she made in my life almost 30 years ago.

‘She’s So Caring and Shows Kindness in Every Aspect’

From andreas jordan.

My teaching as a profession teacher, Mrs. McClannon has impacted my life in so many ways because she’s so caring and shows kindness in every aspect. She checks in with her students everyday and constantly gets to know us personally. She shows extraordinary compassion to her teaching and helps you when you need it! Now that’s an extraordinary educator!

‘She Connected With Us as Learners. More Importantly, She Believed in Us. She Believed in Me’

From cris charbonneau.

My younger kids asked me if I had class pets in school – as in a dinosaur. According to my third and fifth grader, the best teachers are the ones that have class pets. I dug out a picture of my third grade class picture. Looking at our class photo made me laugh. There I was: sandwiched between a bunny and a chicken. Funny, right? But it was the perfect visual description of my class.

My third-grade teacher passed away. Clara Barefoot Sehorn. That was her name. And as third graders, you can imagine the smirks and the giggles when we learned her middle name. But she didn’t care. She was proud of her name; her heritage; who she was. At a time when, as seven and eight year olds, we were just learning about the world outside our own backyards, and for me, a first-generation Filipino living in a very homogenous community, she helped us embrace our differences. Learning and working with others was a lesson that I’ve kept with me all through life.

Our classroom smelled a bit earthy. The window sills were lined with drying clay pinch pots. Paint brushes saturated with purple, green, and yellow glaze were soaking in the sink. In the back, was our beloved “Nest” – a reading corner piled with big pillows and books, inviting for any student to read, or rest our eyes, or, as Ms. Sehorn always encouraged us, to sit in the nest and “day dream something wonderful, then bring it to life.”

We kept a chicken that laid eggs, incubated them and hatched them. We documented it all. We fed them from droppers and learned about the cycle of life and where our food comes from.

Ms. Sehorn was different from the other teachers in the building. Lessons didn’t seem timed. The entire day seemed to flow. We’d take walks along the path in between the school and the neighboring property where they kept horses. Thistles lined the path. Mount Saint Helen’s ash was still present. We picked up earth worms, potato bugs, dug up rock, clay, dirt, and soil. We composted and created our own garden. Everyone contributed. Every student felt a sense of ownership: a sense of pride in the things we dreamed up and created.

That spring, President Ronald Reagan was assassinated … or so we worried. Our classroom gathered and watched in horror the news reports on the big roll-in tube-TV on a cart. There were very few TVs at our school, but Ms. Sehorn insisted the importance of understanding what had happened. She was emotional. She was concerned. She talked about the importance of the office of the President; I remembered she said, “Even if I don’t agree with him, I respect the position of leadership.” She talked about guns and mental illness. Ms. Sehorn was honest and forthright. She took every moment to help open up our minds, consider the facts, learn to voice our thoughts, and formulate an opinion.

I remember her beautiful smile; her energetic voice; her quick movements throughout the room. I can still feel the twinkle in her eye when she saw the spark in mine. Ms. Sehorn created a spark of curiosity with her experiential learning environment. She encouraged a creative spirit and desire to shine with bright colors amongst a sea of gray. She connected with us as learners. More importantly, she believed in us. She believed in me.”

‘They Not Only Made Math Bearable for Me, but Helped Me to Gain an Appreciation and Enjoyment of the Subject’

From beth gehringer.

Because there are too many extraordinary educators that have impacted my life, I have to choose the two that gave me the greatest appreciation for learning. Two of my high school math teachers not only made math bearable for me, but helped me to gain an appreciation and enjoyment of the subject. Not only that, but because they impacted me so much, it has encouraged me to do the same for others, therefore why I am choosing to pursue a career in education.

‘She Has a Huge Heart for Education and That Showed in Every Single Thing She Did and Said’

From jade smith.

Carol Pope is one of the educators that stands out most to me when I think back on my time at NC State in the Middle Grades Ed program. She’s the most patient educator. She was always able to make her teaching relatable, ensuring that we had real life experiences because there is no teacher like first hand experience. She planned for us to put our practice into real life by partnering our class with a middle school class at Centennial Campus Middle School. She always gave us constructive criticism in a way that made us want to grow and learn and be better teachers. She has a huge heart for education and that showed in every single thing she did and said.

‘I Hope to Become an Educator in a Student’s Life That He Was for Me’

From nicole renwick.

Coach Starr has been the most extraordinary educator in my life! He was a first grade teacher and my high school cross country coach! Over the years, Coach Starr is become a second dad for me! With my parents being divorced and my dad not always supporting me in cross country and my decision to pursue a career in education, having Coach Starr in my life was one of the biggest blessings! One of the most meaningful memories I have of Coach Starr is after a high school cross country meet when my dad pulled me out of the meet so I couldn’t run and I left the meet in tears because being a part of the cross country team was one of my favorite things about high school and I felt like I had let my team down. However, that night he called me to make sure I was okay and ensured me that I had not let the team down, that it was out of my control, and the team was there to support me through the challenge I was dealing with!

Coach Starr has also been the biggest supporter of me choosing a career in education. I have called him for countless interviews on what it means to be a coach and a first grade teacher, has provided me with my entire future classroom library of over 500 books, and he frequently checks up on how my field placement is going.

After I graduate in a few short months, I hope to become an educator in a student’s life that Coach Starr was for me! I hope to put relationships first and be my student’s biggest supporters!

‘I Can’t Thank Her Enough for the Care and Support She Provides Each and Every Student’

From samir patel.

When I was an undergrad in the College of Education, I had many different professors that truly cared for our growth. One professor that stood out the most was Dr. Edgington.

Dr. Edgington stood out the most because of her passion and commitment to making sure her students could become the best teachers they possibly could. You could tell that every detail that went into a lecture was on purpose and throughout. The classes were engaging and interactive and you actively felt like you were learning.

The experiences I had in Dr. Edgington’s class are the ones that I’ll carry over to any career that I take. I often still use these experiences and insights currently in grad school. I can’t thank Dr. Edgington enough for the care and support she provides each and every student.

‘He is a Visionary, Child Advocate and Does What is Best for Students’

From debby woodard.

My extraordinary educator is Dr. Rodney Peterson. Dr. Peterson is a visionary, child advocate and does what is best for students. When my son was transitioning from 5th grade to 6th grade he was moving from his home school to Dr. Peterson’s school. At his home school based on the bias recommendation of a 5th grade teacher he was recommended for remedial math classes. Dr. Peterson met with my son and looked at his test scores and ability. My son was placed in an Advanced Math Course. Dr. Peterson said give him a chance to show you what he can do. Because of that decision and Dr. Peterson taking a chance on my son he is now a Dual Major of Forensic Biology and Criminal Justice at Western Carolina University and possibly a Law Degree at Campbell University. He earned a Pharmacy Tech Certification so he could work as as a Pharmacy Tech during college. Dr. Peterson was the person who said, “Give him a chance to show you what he can do and believed in my son.” I will forever be grateful to Dr. Peterson. Without Dr. Peterson my son’s journey would be so much different. I thank GOD for placing Dr. Person as my son’s principal and owe part of his success to the forward thinking by Dr. Peterson.

‘She Provided an Outlet for Me to Express How I Was Feeling’

From amy choi.

The extraordinary educator in my life was my ninth grade English teacher, Ms. Gilliam. At a time in my life when everything seemed so confusing and scary, she provided an outlet for me to express how I was feeling through our daily journals that we would write in little composition books and she would always respond back to me. It wasn’t just that it was feedback on my writing but it was that she was actually reading what I was going through and hearing me. It didn’t feel so lonely when I knew that Ms. Gilliam was reading and understanding me. I took this trait with me through the years and now I am a history teacher and I also have my students write daily journals, usually reflections, and I always make sure to make personal, individualized comments to each student on their work. All high schoolers want is to be heard. I am thankful to Ms. Gilliam for showing me that.

‘I Am Truly Humbled by all the Opportunities That Our Professors Provide Us With’

From nada wafa.

I really enjoy working with our amazing professors and educators at the College of Education. As a research assistant, I am truly humbled by all the opportunities that our professors provide us with. I’ve recently worked on preparing the event, Dessert with Democracy, with an amazing educator, professor, mentor, and friend, Dr. Paula McAvoy. It’s been a true honor working with her. It was a very fulfilling experience knowing that we had done something so wonderful and so great in allowing others to navigate through dialogues and discussions about contemporary issues happening in the US. I look forward to continuing to work alongside wonderful educators in our College of Education.

‘Her Commitment to Developing the Next Generation of Community College Leaders is Apparent’

From ashley swing.

The faculty of the Adult and Community College education program have been excellent and has provided a lot of great hands-on experiences for our cohort. My chair, Dr. Audrey Jaeger, is especially amazing and always available to help and suggest. She really takes the time to connect with her students and help as often as needed. Her commitment to developing the next generation of community college leaders is apparent.

• development
• extraordinary educators
• philanthropy
• teacher preparation

More From College of Education News

Assistant Teaching Professor of Social Studies Education Micha Jeffries Elected to North Carolina Council for the Social Studies (NCCSS) Board of Directors 

#WhyIChoseEducation: 'My Teachers Had a Big Impact on Me, and I Wanted to be That Person for Other Students,' Says Meghan Larson 

My Student Experience: College of Education Students Explore Educational Opportunities in Eastern North Carolina on We Teach for NC Spring Break 

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Personal Experience — An Unforgettable Experience In My Life

An Unforgettable Experience in My Life

• Categories: Death Personal Experience

About this sample

Words: 719 |

Published: Sep 19, 2019

Words: 719 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Works Cited

• Barry, M. (2010). The death of a loved one: A primer for grieving. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 48(11), 12-15.
• Davis, C. G., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Larson, J. (1998). Making sense of loss and benefiting from the experience: Two construals of meaning. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(2), 561-574.
• Goss, K., & Gilbert, P. (2002). Bereavement following traumatic death: A conceptual analysis and review. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 15(3), 181-191.
• Holland, J. M., Currier, J. M., & Neimeyer, R. A. (2006). Meaning reconstruction in the first two years of bereavement: The role of sense-making and benefit-finding. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, 53(3), 175-191.
• Kübler-Ross, E. (1969). On death and dying. Macmillan.
• Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Davis, C. G. (1999). "Thanks for sharing that": Ruminators and their social support networks. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(4), 801-814.
• Parkes, C. M. (2015). Bereavement: Studies of grief in adult life. Routledge.
• Schut, H., & Stroebe, M. S. (2005). Interventions to enhance adaptation to bereavement. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 8(S1), S140-S147.
• Stroebe, M. S., Schut, H., & Stroebe, W. (2007). Health outcomes of bereavement. The Lancet, 370(9603), 1960-1973.
• Thompson, L. W., Gallagher, D., & Breckenridge, J. N. (1989). Comparative effectiveness of psychotherapies for depressed elders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57(3), 403-407.

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