{"id":19539,"date":"2026-03-11T07:50:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T07:50:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/uncategorized\/a-teacher-shares-lessons-her-students-have-taught-her\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T06:08:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T06:08:06","slug":"a-teacher-shares-lessons-her-students-have-taught-her","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/friends\/a-teacher-shares-lessons-her-students-have-taught-her\/","title":{"rendered":"A Teacher Shares Lessons Her Students Have Taught Her"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhat is<\/em> this class anyway?\u201d\u00a0 The question came from a freshman on the third day of a new school year.\u00a0 The class was Beginning Journalism, as I patiently explained to him while other students snickered. Some other teachers might be insulted, but I thought, \u201cAt least he\u2019s asking questions!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019m supposed to be in Phys. Ed.,\u201d he said, so I sent him on his way to the counselor for a schedule change, and that was that. I wish I could remember his name.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to know where life has led him.<\/p>\n

You see, one of my favorite pursuits over the last 20 years has been reconnecting with hundreds of former students and hearing of their memories, accomplishments and even their disappointments.\u00a0 I search Facebook and other social media looking for familiar names and making an effort to track former students down.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: A CINDERELLA STORY<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I began teaching high school English in 1964 and then taught journalism while advising the school newspaper and yearbook. I left teaching in 1979 to continue a career in publishing, but I never lost my love of teaching nor my fondness for my \u201ckids,\u201d some of whom are now grandparents.<\/p>\n

Most summers find me attending several class reunions, in an effort\u00a0to catch up with former students.<\/p>\n

There are those who have achieved significant careers\u2014a prominent staff member of The New York Times<\/em>; the first female anchorwoman for a TV station in Oklahoma City; a justice on the Oklahoma State Supreme Court, the former mayor of Tulsa, the owner of a well-known musical venue, a TV newsman in Dallas\u2014while there are others whose stories might not seem as impressive…except to me.<\/p>\n

Guiding a student through the process of writing a story for the school newspaper and seeing his or her name in print for the first time was fulfilling, but hearing, years later, of that same student\u2019s courage in the aftermath of a serious auto accident or her battle to overcome a life-threatening disease is more than just fulfilling\u2014it\u2019s heartwarming and inspiring. And in discussing the paths their lives have followed, many of these former students\u2014now my friends\u2014share their faith journeys with me.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: NO SUBSTITUTE FOR INSPIRATION<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m grateful to have had the opportunity to share some important lessons with my students, but they have taught me some valuable things, too:<\/p>\n