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I elected to take AP English in my final year of high school. For those not as familiar with the American, specifically, North Carolinian education system, at least during the [decade redacted], an AP class was an advanced course you could take leading up to an exam at the end of the year which could translate into university credits depending on scores. I say ‘elected’ because while all students must pass senior English in order to graduate, no one said you had to do so at the AP level. What can I say? Peer pressure.
I knew from the very first second I stepped into that classroom that this course was not going to be like the ones I’d previously taken. The cinderblock walls that made up the main buildings of my school’s campus, were painted in a mural of literary characters. It was bright and glaring and took a while for my eyes to adjust looking at all that color considering all the other walls around campus were stark white.
The class was barely underway when our teacher began handing out a list of books we would not only be required to read in addition to our regular coursework, we’d be also expected to analyze. I remember thinking repeatedly as more titles were rattled off, what have I gotten myself into?
The question only grew louder in my brain as the class went on. I thought of the rest of my schedule and the demands of my other courses. Classes like science and math. Classes, which I thought would have a greater impact on my future career.
You could still ask to change your schedule during the first two weeks of school, and so after the second class, I approached my teacher to tell her that as much as I liked her style, I was worried I would be overwhelmed and would she mind signing my transfer request.
My teacher listened to my concerns but didn’t pick up her pen. Instead, she looked me in the eyes and told me she thought I had what it took. She asked me to think about it a while longer and if at the end of the second week I still wanted to move to another class she would sign the request without argument. Considering she didn’t know me any more than the other students in the class, I wondered briefly if she had said what she had out of some form of self-interest. Would she get dinged for her performance if kids transferred? I wondered. Then again, I argued, she’d probably get dinged more for kids not passing. Wouldn’t she? Mostly, though, I found myself wanting to believe what she said. I wanted to be that person she thought I was.
I agreed to her suggestion. In the scheme of things, what really, was another day or two?
At the end of the year, we entered the room only to find the mural all but gone with the majority of walls painted the same white as the rest of the campus. Our teacher explained then that for those final days she wanted us to fill in the blank spaces. She would supply the paint and we could pair up however we wanted, but we were to create a mural of our own based on readings we’d done throughout the year for next class to enjoy the following year.
I left behind a piece of myself on the walls of that classroom, if only for as long as an extra year, but I took with me much more.
I’ve blocked out the majority of my high school experience, but not her class, and not the lessons I learned there. For it was there I learned that, while I will be tempted to quit when the work gets difficult or otherwise overwhelming, if I press on the end result will likely prove to be worth the sweat and tears. I also learned that while I might not always believe in myself, there are others out there who are willing to believe enough for the both of us. The trick is to trust them.
It is important to find mentors in life, people who believe enough in you to coach you through the tough times. A simple nod of encouragement by these people can be enough to make the difference between success and failure. And there is no rule to limit a person to just one. You can build yourself a team of mentors if that’s what your path to success requires.
And if you do find yourself one day looking into the eyes of someone considering giving up, think of the people who once believed in you. Look them in the eye and tell them to give it another day. Who knows what a difference your words can make.
Related readings
- This Is Why You Don’t Have a Mentor – www.99u.com
- How to find a mentor – www.fizzle.co
- 5 Tips for Finding and Keeping a Good Mentor – www.entrepreneur.com
yes I can relate to that (esp the redacting the high school year…); having a teacher believe and encourage you to believe is invaluable at whatever age it happens. Mine was a Maoist hippy who taught history called Colin Boun; great man, dreadful politics – much like me (*coughs)
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🙂 That must have been a fascinating class – or at least highly entertaining.
As far as I know she is still teaching, so hopefully some other kids have gotten to benefit as well.
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Yep that would be good.
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My best school memories are of my English teachers, too. They really are a special breed.
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My German teacher is right up there with them. 🙂
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I rather liked my German teacher during my study abroad semester in Austria. Must be a language teacher type of thing. 🙂
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Must be! He was a hoot. I had him all four years of high school. When I had to tell him my homework, which was in one of my notebooks in my locker, had been stolen, his response immediately was ‘why of course, because German assignments are very, very valuable you know.’
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Haha! Love it!
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I love this post, Allie. What a positive and inspiring message. Thanks for sharing it ❤
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🙂 I am glad you enjoyed it. She was (and likely still is) a great teacher. It was probably for the best I took her class my final year. She would have been a hard act to follow.
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I love this! 💖 Leaving a part of yourself behind… What did you take away from this class that you can leave for the next group of students? What a brilliant idea. This is awesome.
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It was THE best way to spend those final few days together.
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What a cool teacher!
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I thought so too!
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Our AP classes didn’t get us anything special at the end of the year. I took AP because they were less boring than regular classes. I’m inspired by what happened to you in your English class. Good teachers make all the difference.
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Oh, that’s too bad about your class. I totally understand why you still took it though. I’d much rather be challenged than bored.
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Nice job, Allie. 🙂 “Keep on keeping on!” that’s my motto. Just finished writing another book, and on to the next one!
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Congratulations! Fingers crossed I am going to be able to say the same, not once but twice this year.
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Gosh, you’re an upbeat lady, Allie!
Seriously, don’t ever change.
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Some days are easier than others for sure, but I try!
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You do way more than that…
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Aw, shucks 😊
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LOVED this post. I have blocked out most of the entire of my schooling – lots of bad memories. But there was one English teacher who changed my life! 🙂 I’ll never forget them. Never. Oh, and I believe in you more than you’ll ever know 💖
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Aww, thanks!
I sometimes have nightmares in which I am back in school and can’t wake up fast enough. I am still friends with a few of my classmates, but was definitely not an period of my life I particularly want to relive.
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I have one friend from school… one! Singular. And a whole heap of bad memories! I’m with you, never again with school!
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Allie, this is a terrific reminder to stick with it when the road looks too tough. A mentor who believes in you can make a huge difference. My daughter had a tough as nails AP American History. She ended up with a low C in the class as a result, but made a “4” on the AP exam. He prepared them. Keith
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Thank you so very much and I am glad your daughter also had a positive, if challenging, experience. Hard work does pay off, but having a mentor certainly makes the work easier to bear.
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