How History Impacted My Future by Matteo

How History Impacted My Future by Matteo - January 2025 Scholarship Essay

I didn’t have the chance to spend a full year with my favorite educator, Mr. O’Leary, but his impact on me has lasted far beyond the classroom. He wasn’t just an exceptional history teacher—he taught me more about learning than about any specific subject. In our small charter school, everyone talked about his class, and I would always hear the day's lesson plan from the students who had his class before me. What made Mr. O’Leary stand out was how he personalized his approach, incorporating the unique learning styles of every student. He seemed to know how to engage us, whether we were visual learners, auditory learners, or kinesthetic learners. It was his ability to connect with each individual that left a lasting impression.
Now, as a teacher’s assistant in college and a tutor, I try to do the same with my students. Mr. O’Leary’s influence continues to shape my teaching philosophy, reminding me that a meaningful connection can make all the difference in a student’s learning experience. I moved halfway through my freshman year, but I still remember the last conversation we had. He told me that he believed in me, that I should trust my instincts, and that I would go far in life. It was advice I had heard before but hearing it from someone I admired truly made it stick.
Even five years later, when I catch up with my friends from that school, we often find ourselves reminiscing about Mr. O’Leary. His ability to build personal relationships with his students was something we all felt. Each of us has a story about how he made us feel seen, heard, and valued.