The World's Best Teacher by Ava

The World's Best Teacher by Ava - January 2025 Scholarship Essay

My first two teachers retired the year I had them, and I was ready for a teacher who loved teaching and wanted to teach me new things. Mrs. Kavanaugh was my second grade teacher and she was the best teacher I’ve ever had. Everyday I was excited to go to school and see her, which continued as years went on since I was able to walk to her classroom and see her whenever I wanted. One thing I specifically remember her teaching me and inspiring me to do was regarding my reading level. My whole class was reading books that were not challenging enough for me, but I didn’t want to advance without them. I was a gymnast at the time as well, and Mrs. Kavanaugh compared reading to gymnastics so that I would really understand what she was telling me. She asked me if I wanted to stay a certain level in gymnastics longer than I had to even if I had the skills to level up, and of course I said no. Who would want to stay at a level that you were too good for? After I answered, she told me that reading was the same way, and since I was ahead I should be reading more advanced material. She handed me a book about Dominique Moceanu, a young American olympian, and encouraged me to read it despite it being challenging. At the end of the school year, she let me keep the book and I still have it to this day as a reminder to do things at my own pace and challenge myself. Even though she said that to me ten years ago, I still remember and reference it in similar situations that come my way.