A few days ago, Chasten Buttigieg – married to South Bend, IN, mayor and possible 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, Pete Buttigieg – posted an interesting question on Twitter:
What’s the greatest lesson a teacher has ever taught you? #TeacherTalkTuesday
— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chas10Buttigieg) April 2, 2019
In response, an avalanche of stories rolled in. These tweeters clearly were majorly influenced by their teachers – in fact, it’s not too far to say that these are stories of how their teachers changed their lives. After seeing the responses, you will want to grab the nearest teacher and hug them tight.
Teachers, we can’t thank you enough! Seriously, you deserve more than we can give you.
So, scroll through these tweets about hero teachers for a serious booster shot of wholesomeness and good feelings.
1. Showing how to get into college.
I grew up in a trailer park in rural southern Illinois (neither parent graduated high school). My HS math teacher taught me what college IS, how to apply, how to pay for it. I'm now a doctor at a Harvard-affiliate hospital, a long path I could not have taken without that lesson.
— Kevin W. Cates, MD, MPH (he/him/his) (@CatesKw) April 2, 2019
2. Giving clothes and time.
She was/is a wonderful person. She gave me clothes her son had grown out of (when my parents couldn't afford new clothes for me). She took me to tour the University where I ended up enrolling. She helped me find the full tuition scholarship that made enrolling possible.
— Kevin W. Cates, MD, MPH (he/him/his) (@CatesKw) April 2, 2019
3. Giving self-confidence.
Mrs. Chase in 2nd grade taught me that it's ok if you learn differently than the rest of the class. It gave me confidence to succeed when many others were telling me I might not. It is why I am going to become a teacher.
— R. Wilson (@RyleyWilson12) April 2, 2019
4. Giving support.
A teacher once declared he hated Mexicans & as the only brown-skinned student in the class, I sank in my chair. It took a lot of small gestures from other teachers to undo what he did. Teachers have massive influence & I thank those that support, not destroy students.
— Que Fregados (@quefregados) April 2, 2019
5. Sharing creativity.
My grandmother was an art teacher. She was the most beautiful soul and taught with heart and dedication. She taught me to always have a favorite set of magic markers. I still do.
— Laura A. De Veau, M.Ed. (@deveautrain) April 2, 2019
6. Saving lives.
On a more personal note, I suppose, a high school teacher taught me that it's normal to be depressed and I shouldn't be ashamed to get help. I think it saved my life.
— Chelsey Engel (@femmewithapen) April 2, 2019
7. Teaching adulting.
How to balance a checkbook. It’s those seemingly innocuous small things that stick with you.
— Joshua Fields Millburn (@JFM) April 2, 2019
8. Teaching maturity.
To think about things before I say them. I come from a family of funny, quick talkers… but when you’re 15, things come out wrong. This teacher taught me to slow down and say something good instead of fast. And it has stuck with me forever.
— my real name is fat patricia (@mylittlevictory) April 2, 2019
9. Giving encouragement.
A failure isn’t a period, it’s a semicolon
— Alyssa Sperrazza (@sperrazzaa) April 2, 2019
10. Teaching lasting skills.
Typing. I didn't want to take the class, but my mom begged me to. I wanted to be an auto mechanic, and this was the late 70's. Mechanics didn't type. Computers didn't exist in my world. I was 1 of 5 boys in the class. The only skill I learned in high school I use every day now.
— Bill Horton (@BillHorton17) April 2, 2019
Teachers do some of the hardest work on the planet. Certainly, nobody’s getting rich by being an educator, but teachers do their jobs because they love the work and they love their students. Thank you, teachers. You inspire us.
