Good teachers are imperative and are hard to come by. An instructor's methods and structure in the classroom can directly impact a pupil's attitude towards learning. Equally so, it can impact the students view of themselves, their self-worth in society and their potential to grow mentally. My favorite teacher is a man named Mr. Guerra, he was truly a great soul. Mr. Guerra covered the material in its entirety, he was receptive to student's ideas and thoughts, and was very patient. He thought a well taught class helped people of all ages to fully grasp the material and more importantly, enjoy learning in the process. Mr. Guerra also never made a student feel small, even if they didn't understand the material. It is because of Mr. Guerra, that I was inspired to become a teacher myself. Good teachers have many qualities, but the best teachers make students want to come to class. .
Anyone who wants to share knowledge can be a teacher. This willingness to share knowledge is an important trait for a good teacher. In Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," Marguerite frequently speaks about Mrs. Bertha Flowers, a woman who had invited Marguerite into her home to enjoy her books, and who had shown her poetry for the first time in her life. It was a simple gesture that perhaps the average person would not have thought twice about. However, the impact that Mrs. Flowers made on Marguerite at such a tender age changed her forever. She says, and I quote, "She was one of the few gentlewomen I have ever known, and she has remained throughout my life the measure of what a human being can be." It is that exact comment that makes me immediately think of when I attended Merced High School and walked into my 9th grade U.S. History class for the first time. There on the chalk board was an introduction that read, "My name is Mr. Guerra, the best teacher you will ever have. Prepare yourselves and buckle your educational seat belt because we are about to go back in time.
