by Texas Christian Injury Attorney, Tim O’Hare
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“What a teacher writes on the blackboard of life can never be erased.” Author Unknown
This week we celebrate teachers. Those men and women who tirelessly pour into the lives of children day in and day out. There are few professions which impact a human being for a lifetime. Teaching is one. Teachers are often underappreciated for the work they do, but I couldn’t let Teacher Appreciation Week pass by without taking the time to acknowledge the teachers who left a lasting imprint on my life.
My 5th grade homeroom teacher at Valwood Elementary, Ms. Nancy Jewett, was no doubt the most impactful teacher I ever had. Ms. Jewett made me feel like I could do anything. For the first time I can remember, I began to develop self-confidence; a feeling that I really could do anything in my life. Ms. Jewett brought positivity and energy to her classroom. She simply believed in us — in me. Being in her classroom, you couldn’t help but believe in yourself. Every child deserves to know the feeling of confidence, and a teacher can make or break that. Ms. Jewett was a confidence-maker.
Jimmy Gunn was my head football coach at R.L. Turner High School. Mr. Gunn had an incredible work ethic and taught me that hard work always pays off. He taught discipline and that success is a direct result of the effort you exert, whether on the football field or in life. From Coach Gunn, I learned the power of preparation — preparing for excellence; preparing for success. I know that preparation is essential in working toward and achieving your goals, and I have Coach Gunn to thank for instilling that understanding in me.
During college, at The University of Texas, I enrolled in a finance class taught by Dr. Bill Petty. Not only was Dr. Petty an excellent educator, he was a man of strong Christian faith and he demonstrated how to incorporate faith and ethics into business. This has become the highest priority for me in the 17 years since The Law Offices of Tim O’Hare opened its doors. Not only did I learn from Dr. Petty in his classroom, he took time to meet regularly with me for lunch. He was willing to invest in me, imparting to me his wisdom and the importance of always doing the right thing in business. In today’s cut-throat business world, many people lose sight of integrity, but thanks to Dr. Petty, I learned early on that integrity is the foundation of business and I believe that wholeheartedly.
To those of you who teach, never underestimate the impact you are making on the lives of your students — even the most difficult students will remember the time you invested in their lives and the lessons you taught that extend far beyond the walls of the classroom. And for that, I say a warm, heartfelt thank you.
Which teacher influenced your life the most? Tell us about your most memorable teacher on our Facebook page.
