Some teachers remain in our memories because of what they taught us. Others remain because of how they made us feel. Linda Stansbury, my high school business teacher, gave me both. gave me both.
Mrs. Stansbury had a sweet disposition and a gentle way of making each student feel as though we mattered. She was kind, caring, and always willing to help. Even on busy days, she never made us feel like an interruption. She listened and encouraged us. Most importantly, she saw possibilities in us that we might not have recognized in ourselves.
Her classroom was more than a place to learn business skills. She was preparing us for the world that waited beyond the school doors. She made us believe we belonged in that world and had something valuable to contribute.
Mrs. Stansbury didn’t merely tell me that I had potential; she acted on it. She helped me get a job at State Farm Insurance when I was still in high school. That opportunity meant a great deal to me as a young woman who was just beginning to imagine what my future might hold.
Walking into a professional interview can be intimidating when you are young and unsure of yourself. However, knowing that Mrs. Stansbury believed I was capable gave me courage. If she thought I was ready to walk through those, maybe I should believe too. That was one of her gifts; she made us feel a little more confident, a little more capable, and a little more prepared to meet the world.
Because she gave us so much, another student, Chris, and I decided to surprise her with a baby gift once we discovered she was expecting. We decided to organize a secret gift, but we had to keep everything a secret.
Quietly, we began asking other students to donate whatever they could. A little here, a little there quickly added up to the perfect amount. Whispered conversations and excited giggles before class soon gave way to the day we brought in our gift. We took our money and bought her a cute yellow-and-white high chair with baby animals on the cover.
I can’t remember every detail of the day we gave her the gift. But I know she was surprised and touched as she wiped away tears. Our gift touched her. It was more than a baby chair; it was our way of letting her know she was loved. She had a way of making us each feel special, and for one moment, we got to make her feel special in return.
Looking back, I realize Mrs. Stansbury had a rare gift as a teacher. She did not need grand gestures to influence her students. Her influence showed up in the quiet things: the way she encouraged, listened, and opened doors.
Now that I am a teacher, I understand her impact even more. Students eventually forget many assignments and the lessons we teach. They may not remember every direction, deadline, or grade, yet they often remember the teacher that noticed them, believed in them, and saw a future they had not yet imagined. Mrs. Stansbury was that teacher for me.
She taught me about business and helped me take my first steps into the business world. But the most important lesson she gave me had nothing to do with business. She showed me what it meant to have a generous heart, and how one caring teacher can make every student feel extraordinary.
Years have passed, but her kindness still lives on in the teacher I strive to be.