>_< MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHERS/PROFESSORS (MIDDLE)

In continuing with the subject, I want to inform all of you that the way our school system worked is that we would pretty much change schools every 4+ years. Elementary school was K-4, "middle" school was 5-8, and high school was 9-12. I know some districts go K-12 or K-8... so I'm just letting you know that's how we did things. Now with the exception of Mrs. Plasner and Mr. Foy, I had a whole slew of "favorite" teachers in middle school. But none more influential than the following:

Mrs. Dora Santos & Mrs. DeStio-Fontaine: I almost went into creeper status trying to look for pictures of these two. Actually I tried for all the teachers I was trying to put on this list, but they seem to be keeping a very low profile. Either way, I put these two teachers together because for some reason, I can't think of one without the other. These two taught my 8th and 7th grade Language Arts/Literature class, respectively. They always seemed the best of friends outside of class, which is influential in itself becasue they showed me the difference between being co-workers and being friends. It didn't matter at the time since I wasn't working but it did help in the long run about how I would eventually become more open in different levels between student and teachers. They allowed me to judge which teachers I could approach or not. They were also the ones who got me to start appreciate reading books, even though I never really enjoyed doing it. They helped develop my writing skills I needed to succeed in college. Heck they helped my creativity way too much with all the reports of books that I made up. They introduced us to speech, which helped spark my need to conque the fear of public speaking, which is why I generally do that very well today. They were also just really refreshing to see every day. Which is something most teachers can't really achieve with me. To this day, I still go back to my old middle school, and they're still there - all be it a little bigger and older - but still there. I hope they're there for a really long time because they need to help shape the minds of the future like they did mine.

Mr. Douglas Orr: My first teacher to openly admit he was diabetic, he was the one who showed me that although people can be different, they still shouldn't be judged by what they have. In fact he influential to me through technology. He was a bit of a tech buff at the time (and for the late 90's to 2000's thats not saying much). He introduced me to the art of filmaking and acting. We had made a movie based on the hulk about bullying (and I was the head bully) and thats really where I guess I could credit him with my naturality in front of people and the camera. Don't get me wrong, the movie was terrible, but I know he sparked a lot of interest with other students in digital imaging, photoshop, and movie editing. It influenced me to pursue interest in the field. I'm a bit of tech buff, and though I don't know all the fancy words and codes, I like to keep myself updated. His influence was so great that he actually got me to choose filmaking and acting over trying out for the basketball team - which at the time I was pretty beast at. When I asked Mrs. Santos and Mrs. DeStio-Fontaine about him, they had said he moved on to doing something in the tech field with some company. That's pretty cool.

Mr. Robert Murphy: from the day he called me and the rest of the 5th graders munchkins, to the vary last day of gym, Mr. Murphy has influenced me to become a competitive, athletically focused individual. He did that for all of this school. I remember moving on to high school, no one but the kids from our middle school loved gym. He always encouraged us to stay active - and I think he gave me my first C becasue I was too lazy - and to try and find that one thing you love and what you were good at. For me at the time, that was basketball. Every sport he would choose captains based on talent, and they would choose teams that we would play with for the rest of the time we did that sport. I was always chosen for basketball. It felt good becasue it was usually the same 4 or 5 kids choosing - the popular jock kids. I was always excited when beasketball came around, because it would make me feel pretty good about myself. He was also the one who introduced me to volleyball. I would remember that he would introduce "coke points" every time we played. In order to get one, we had to send the ball over in exactly 3 hits. I didn't know that's how it was ACTUALLY played at the time, but his influence during that whole section of volleyball eventually got me to realize I wasn't really bad at it, and here I am today - a beasty volleyball player. Every year we were required to run a mile, and every year I pushed myself to get better, and that in itself was it's own influence. I'm always looking to get better at my game. Without Mr. Murphy, I might've been just another lazy fat kid.

Mr. Evan Lothian: Science teacher, 8th grade. Need I say more? Well I will. This man was responsible for pretty much who I will be for the rest of my life. I remembered that he detoxed for a week or two during the school year and that influenced me to do the same later in life. Evan showed me that I shouldn't be afraid to be smart, that it can be pretty cool sometimes. He was the closest one in age to us, and therefore more slightly more relatable. He left our school after our class graduated, but he was also another teacher that I kept in touch with. He had a filipino wife, which I guess why I even took interest to him in the first place. Other than that he was someone who shared a lot about his personal life to a selct few students, and that meant a real lot to me. He was one of the first to acknowledge the fact that our student teacher relationship was gone, and we referred to each other by our first names, and we hung out regularly. We went shopping one time for his pets. Super casual stuff. He gave me rides home een though I was 5 minutes away on foot. Every christmas or so he would send greetings. Sadly, I haven't heard from him in awhile but I know he's still out there because I was pretty much hinted that awhile ago he might have finally got that family started. I wish him all the best.

Some notable mentions include my math teachers, Mrs. Dye (who became principal) and Mr. Butkowski (who was crazy... literally). They helped me find my natural ability for math and numbers, which is why I eventually chose chemistry over biology. My guidance counselor, Ms. McLeod (spell check) who is married now and therefore does not have that last name anymore was also really hot (in her own way?) and helped with that awkward puberty phase. Mr. Primo (gym), Mr. Blust (Social Studies), Mr. [name witheld] (Social Studies), all showed me that there are in fact creeper/pedophiles in the world. Mrs. Rowan (Spanish) who allowed me to be the smartest student in class. Mr. Herdman (Reading) for being just as casual with us as we were with him.
Middle school was a great year for influences. It was the time when I was self aware of myself and the fact that eventually I would have to grow up, and so I should take all the lessons I learn from here on out seriously. It was the puberty years, so society and the way I saw people had a huge influence during this highly emotionally self-conscience time. I have all these great teachers to shape who I thought were real adults in society. Also, I realized, the more influential you are, the more likely I'm going to remember your first name.

ta ta kids