The Lessons In School That Really Count

We are in school since about the age of five where we learn how to read, how to calculate the Pythagorean Theorem, or how to write a research paper- aka skills that the world thinks we need to know.

Teachers and professors are there to teach us those things and more, but the most important thing they teach is not found in books but rather it’s the life lessons that they seem to sneak in without you even realizing it.

I went to a small grade school, where I was able to be around my favorite teacher, Mrs. Danell, for nine years. In those nine years, she taught me way more than what any book ever could.

Continue to do what you love… even if that is in another country… even after retirement.

Mrs. Danell is now in another country doing what she loves: teaching. This is what most people dream of. Sure, that may not sound too impressive, but she left when she was 76 years old. She told me she was sitting in her rocking chair one day and she was upset because she wasn’t doing anything. She then saw an article in a magazine about teaching kids in Grenada, and she knew that that’s what she wanted to do. So she had the interviews and such and was thrilled to learn that she was chosen to go to Grenada. She is currently a mentor-teacher for a brand-new program at a school there. I know she is doing amazing things in Grenada for the kids and the school there and I can not wait to hear all about it when she returns.  

What motivates her to keep teaching? It’s a simple, two-word answer: God’s Word.

Never give up, including on people.

With a little perseverance (and a lot of patience), anything is possible.

You are probably thinking “no duh” right about now, what teacher would give up on a student? Not her, I can guarantee it. While helping in her classroom during a couple spring breaks, I was almost ready to give up on the kids; just think about two grades in one classroom, being noisy, “walking really fast” in the classroom, etc. I have no idea how she put up with my class and the students before and after us, but she did and hats off to you, Mrs. Danell.

She also made sure that every student knew what was going on during a lesson so that they would succeed in their homework and tests. I remember a few times I would go to her desk during study time where she would help me work through a problem and somehow a lightbulb would go off and I could finish it. I also like to believe that this where my love of learning happened. She made school fun and exciting, something that sounds kind of odd, but I learned that it is possible.

Your job can be challenging, but if it is something you love, stick with it.

Whatever occupation you are in, you are going to have good days and bad days, but mostly good days. Also, give 100% each and every day even if you do not feel like it.

Life is more than just the lessons in school; it’s about what we learn from others, and Mrs. Danell has sure taught me more than I ever could learn from a book.