A few weeks ago, I came across an old video of British TV personality and former footballer Ian Wright. The video, which had amassed millions of views, shows an emotional surprise reunion between Wright and his former primary school teacher, Mr Pigden. The meeting brought him to tears as they had not seen each other for a long while, and Wright was even wrongfully informed that he had died. As a viewer, one can see the profound respect he had for his former teacher and glimpses of just how much his life was influenced by him. In a BBC interview uploaded to YouTube last year, Wright said: “Mr Pigden, he wanted to teach. He probably wanted to teach because he wanted to find a student that he could change their lives, and it was me. I was the guy. I can’t even tell you; I think about it literally every day. It gave me some self-worth. It made me feel like I was important”.
This is just an example of how much a good teacher, a profession that is often difficult and at times even thankless, can do for a person. Teachers are role models that have the power to leave a great impression on those whom they teach. They, in my opinion, are among the most valuable role models, particularly as I see them as often going beyond just being a teacher while simultaneously being greatly influential in their own right.
Educator, friend & role model
The word “teacher” is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as “someone whose job is to teach in a school or college”. However, drawing from the experience of having been a student, the definition and their role extends beyond that. One of the reasons I think they are prominent role models is that they are more than just someone who stands in front of a class to teach throughout their day. They are the people who offer advice and a listening ear when you have no one to talk to. Although they represent figures of authority and respect, they can also be your friend, parent and older sibling that you can open up to and laugh with. Moreover, aside from teaching and sharing valuable knowledge, they are among those who can help enforce morals as well as motivating you to do the best that you can. At times, they are the ones who point you in the right direction of what you want to pursue. Teachers, particularly those with the most passion and dedication, are those who go above and beyond the definition of their profession and are absolutely those we can look up to.
Influential people that we can look up to
In his autobiography, Rainn Wilson, who is known for playing Dwight Schrute in the US adaptation of the mockumentary-style sitcom The Office, said: “Teachers can make such a profound impact on our lives and should be honoured as heroes”. This is a sentiment I could not agree with more, particularly after remembering the teachers that I still look up to today. One teacher not only cultivated my love for reading by lending me stacks of books and making time to discuss the ones I found most interesting, but steered me towards the right path whenever I had no sense of direction. Others became crucial in shaping the mould of the type of person I wanted to be and encouraged me not to give up during the times when I could have just decided to.
Teachers are among the most valuable role models that I can think of. I see them as heroes that I can always look up to, while also going beyond just how their professional role is defined. Great teachers can leave a great impact on a person’s life and will always play an important role.
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