“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

With days and years coming to an end and the 2018 year approaching, I wanted to take a moment to thank the unsung hero of the EMS teaching experience: outstanding teacher and mentor.

The first time we meet in Tampa, Florida on 2005 at Clearwater Beach during ASHI conference you opened your classroom to me, and opened your arms to a fresh new face with a million ideas as you came in with boundless energy every day, applying it to everything I experienced. You guided me as through the years, glowing with excitement.

Every day, you endured the millions of questions I had and answered them all with a calmness and experienced understanding of my sponge like wish to soak up as much information as I could and as often as possible.   

 You tolerated my countless insane emails, my worldwide travel activities, grew accustomed to my perfectionist demeanor, and encourage me as was all “just right.”

Over the past many years, through my projects, classroom activities and conferences , I had longed to become that kind of teacher…the one who inspires. I watched as the students so enthusiastically asked and answered questions, hugged their teachers, smiled and told him stories, and genuinely loved their teachers. I got to become the teacher I have always dreamed of being – because of you.

You never treated me like a student, but rather like a respected colleague giving ideas, imparting wisdom, sharing projects, attending staff meetings/professional conferences together, letting me introduce myself, referring the students to me as their “teacher” rather than their “student teacher.”

You believed in me and within the first day, trusted me enough to grab the reigns and jump right in, allowing me to make my own decisions and giving me constructive feedback anytime I asked.

You with a solid career built from dedication and hard work, and with outstanding global respect from others – gave me your trust. You handed me the opportunity and said, “Go for it!”. You believed in me. From the nervous, anxious and organized mess that I was...your support and guidance helped me change into the confident, risk-taking, bold teacher that I am today. You gave me the freedom, the independence, and helped me grow.

Looking back one of the most important and valuable lessons I’ve learned is that the difference between a good teacher and an exceptional teacher is that exceptional teachers most often are the facilitators of learning, acting as “the guide on the side” in the classroom. Modeling and demonstration can be good, but the hands-on application and guided practice are the best way for students to learn and develop.

Thank you, my legacy teacher. Thank you for believing in me, guiding me, teaching me to laugh at my own mistakes, and helping me to see how wonderfully rewarding this profession truly is.

I’d like you to know that none of this has gone unnoticed by me, and I am grateful for your kindness, loyalty, and commitment to all of EMS community Worldwide.

You are spectacular!

(Dedicated to my mentor, Prof Walt Stoy: Thank you for everything.) 

Ahed Al Najjar