Lessons from Teachers

Last week, during Teacher Appreciation Week, I was fortunate to reconnect with my 8th through 10th grade English teacher, Mrs. Waters. In addition to being a wonderful teacher who encouraged my reading and writing, she was there for me during a difficult time in my life. Having a chance to thank her many years later for all she did for me was a rare opportunity and one I will always cherish. People don’t get into teaching for the money, but for the desire to make a difference, share their knowledge, and if lucky, instill in future generations a passion for life-long learning. Three lessons I took from some of my favorite teachers and professors over the year have continued to serve me well throughout my career.

Be Prepared – Mrs. Pace, Pine Street Middle School

Mrs. Pace, another of my influential English teachers, had many sayings, but the one I remember the most is what she told kids who forgot their books in their lockers: “Educating your locker while you’re walking around dumb.” The fear of being caught without the necessary materials for class, along with my grandfather’s insistence on the 7 Ps, taught me the importance of planning ahead and being prepared. This became invaluable during event planning, including corporate board meetings and holiday parties, non-profit community outreach and auctions, and even several weddings. Asking do I have everything I need for what’s expected to happen, and do I have contingency plans for what might happen, helped me tackle problems big and small and pull off successful events.

Listen to the Customer – Professor Ahearn, English, OSU

Professor Ahearn’s regular assignments to write one paragraph on the reading for English Lit went against everything I’d been previously taught about how to write an essay. I continued to write as before with several paragraphs. They would be returned with a red “B” at the top. It took me multiple Bs before I focused on the key phrase – one paragraph. I was not listening to what my “customer” wanted. When I wrote the same way, but without any extra returns, I received As. I might have a notion of what or how I think a project should be done, but it’s important to always ask the question: “Does this meet the customer’s criteria for this project?” Truly listening to what the client wants helps me to deliver “A” quality work.

Recognize Context – Professor Brauner, Anthropology, OSU

Professor Brauner demonstrated how critical context is when deciphering archaeological finds. If someone takes a golden idol off a pedestal in an ancient jungle tomb, it’s removed from the context that provides valuable information such as when the idol was created, the tools used to create it, and its cultural significance to the people that created it. Similarly for communications, context provides valuable information for both the message and how you deliver it. When things are taken out of context, misunderstandings can happen, trust can be broken, and relationships can be damaged. Body language and vocal tone provide further context but don’t translate well in an email or text. Knowing when to communicate in person vs. phone/video conference vs. email/text depends greatly on the context of the message. When I craft messaging, covering the relevant context – what, why, when, where, who, and how – ensures that the audience will feel more informed and engaged.

These are just a few of the many lessons I learned from some wonderful teachers. I invite you to share a meaningful lesson from a teacher that impacted your life, especially with that teacher. We can’t thank them enough for the work they do shaping the future.