Lakeland High School
Suffolk, VA
I’ve been a Chemistry teacher for the past 23 years, so I have experienced many things. I have come to realize that regardless of the change in times teenagers still need love guidance and structure. I can’t describe my inner drive, but I do know that each year I get the most amazing students (people) that I am constantly learning from. The truth of the matter is I only have one chance in life to make a difference in this world. I see an opportunity every day to give these teenagers hope and find some purpose in life. Yes, there are odds stacked against us (students and teachers) when we are following a moral compass. But I assure you at the end of each day I can remember at least one situation in which I was able to be compassionate caring and loving and a student genuinely felt it. Although I don’t have social media after doing the math of teaching an average of 100 students yearly and communicating with at least one parent for 23 years I’d say I was an influencer to at least 4600 people! I’d say that’s a pretty fulfilling life!