I couldn’t pick just one, because both of these classes had a huge impact on me, but in different ways. The subjects themselves were things I loved, but it was the teachers that made the difference.
Our school was so small that we had 62 students in our graduating class and I had the same Art teacher for the entire duration of my school life (starting from 3rd grade, when we moved to Arkansas). The “complex” itself had 3 main buildings, split into K-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12. The Art building was a separate entity entirely, 2 floors high, and smack dab in the middle of all 3 main buildings. The gymnasium was attached to the 6-8 grade building, and “Shop” class was held in a separate building further away from the main complex. By the time I graduated in the year 2000, the 9-12 grade building had been expanded by at least 5 rooms.
Art was – hands-down – my favorite class throughout the entirety of my school life. And “Mama Art” (what we fondly called our teacher) was also my best friend’s mom. She was phenomenal in ways that you don’t see every day. Not only was she really great at teaching art, but she was always kind, open, and a solid person that you could talk to about literally anything. She never made any of her students feel inferior for the pieces of art they made and treated everyone equally. She was quite literally my “2nd mom” growing up, and I spent a LOT of time at my best friend’s house (it was one of my only escapes from the Hell that was my childhood). Even beyond school, after graduating, she remained someone that I could reach out to if I ever needed anything. That relationship, as well as the one with my best friend, faded with time… but never fully went away – until she passed away. I don’t recall how long it’s been since that happened.
As for Science… I didn’t hate it, but I don’t remember much from the 6-8 grade Science class/teacher. When I got into 9th and up, Mr. Miller was what made Science FUN and exciting. I still remember the “stirring it up” song he would sing when mixing things, the lovely ball python and gecko he brought for us to hold and play with, and the “club” he formed with 3 of the boys called, “The Stickmasters” (super nerdy and I’m sure there’s a photo of them somewhere out there). I don’t think anyone ever acted up or got in trouble in his class, either, because he was just that awesome of a teacher. Everyone in his class was engaged and wanted to learn, ya know?
Honorable Mention: My Senior Year, I was an aide for our History teacher. Up to that point, I thought he was a huge jerk, as he was so strict and no-nonsense (kinda reminded me of my father, honestly). But… my eyes were opened that year, sitting at the back of class, filling out paperwork and whatever else he needed me to do. I was able to see things from his point of view and it really changed how I thought about who he was as a person. Sure, he was strict, but he was extremely knowledgeable and really loved to teach History. I truly enjoyed being his aide that year, and when it was over, he personally thanked me with a card and a crisp $100 bill for doing so well.
Funny Side Bar: Teenagers… our poor Spanish teacher was the butt of many jokes the last couple years of school. One time, someone brought a condom to class, blew it up, and we all tossed it around like it was no big deal. I don’t know if she was just so sheltered she didn’t know what it was or what, but… when she got it, she commented on how soft it was and the entire class burst into laughter. Lordt, that poor woman.
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