Mrs. Phillips
I want to share with you the impacts of education and the importance of teachers in high school. Throughout my educational journey, I have been fortunate enough to have had many great teachers. However, one teacher who stands out the most to me is Mrs. Phillips, my high school English teacher. She changed the way I think and the way I presented myself to the world. Unlocked a talent I wish I would have pursued more of. That is being me and with confidence.
Mrs. Phillips was my most influential teacher because of her untiring devotion to her students’ success. She went above and beyond to ensure that we not only understood the material but also applied it in our daily lives and who we were as students. Mrs. Phillips infused in me a love for English literature and language that has stayed with me to this day. I can imagine why my kids wonder why I have so many books and information on poetry. Well, Mrs. Phillips made sure we read in class and studied and made sure we read the books for our book reports. Not just the back of the book.
Mrs. Phillips was a master at teaching reading comprehension. She had a unique way of breaking down complex texts and making them accessible to all students. With her guidance, I was able to learn how to analyze texts critically and draw out deeper meanings. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, “Reading is essential to academic success, and comprehension is the key to reading.” Mrs. Phillips taught me how to comprehend what I was reading, and this has been invaluable in my academic and professional life.
Mrs. Phillips also taught us the importance of effective communication. She encouraged us to speak up, express our ideas and opinions, and listen actively. Through various class activities, such as debates, discussions, and presentations, she helped us develop our communication skills. Reminded all students that we have an external voice and an internal voice. Use them together. Mrs. Phillips taught me how to comprehend what I was reading, and this has been invaluable in my academic and professional life.
One of Mrs. Phillips’ greatest strengths was her ability to teach poetry writing. She helped us see poetry as an expression of ourselves. We learned how to use words to convey emotions and ideas. She also had spiral-made books from Kinko’s of all her student’s poems and plays she had them write through the years. She taught us the importance of using language creatively and effectively, and this has been instrumental in my development as a writer. As the poet Robert Frost once said, “Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” (“What is Poetry? | SchoolWorkHelper”) Mrs. Phillips helped us find the words to express our emotions and thoughts.
Mrs. Phillips taught us that English and literature have the power to change the world. She showed us how literature can challenge our perspectives and broaden our horizons. It is itself its own powerful language. Because of my ethnic background being biracial, she engaged me with powerful cultural poets and influential speakers from Africa and the Philippines. She always told us, “use your words, choose your words, and do it wisely.”
Mrs. Phillips was my most influential teacher because of her dedication to her student’s success. She taught me how to comprehend what I was reading, communicate effectively, write poetry, and understand the power of English and literature. She instilled in me a love for English that has stayed with me to this day. As the writer William Butler Yeats once said, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” (“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire”) Mrs. Phillips lit a fire in me, and I will forever be grateful for her impact on my life.
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