Who was your most influential teacher? Why?
He was well loved by all students, always making students smile and laugh, even when the student was at their worst. My ninth-grade year, I walked into a science class for the first time, but this wasn’t just any science class—it was a biology classroom. ‘Oh no, Mr. Johnston,’ I whined, ‘I am not cutting any living thing open.’ He said, ‘No worries, you don’t have biology, not yet,’ with a grin on his face. I thought, ‘I will never have that class.’ (By the way, I never did).
Dr. Johnston was much more than just a teacher; he was also a pioneer in peer mediation at the school. He maintained a sense of calm, especially in such a diverse school. I believe this is why every person I knew had a great deal of gratitude and respect for him.
I had a situation in high school myself that he had to mediate. See, in every school I attended, I seemed to get along pretty well with everyone, along with a handful of close friends. But it seemed as if matchmaker was posted on my forehead. I always would get asked to hook this person up with that person, and vice versa. I always came through. I didn’t mind; everything was okay until I got accused of wanting to be with the person I just hooked them up with. Looking back on my school years, it cracks me up now. It was so stressful at that moment in time though. By the way, I never hooked anyone up with my future boyfriends. That didn’t make any sense. But to this one female, it did for sure. And she was so sure of it to the point of following me around the school trying to fight me. An intervention ended up being necessary, led by none other than the best, Dr. Johnston, our peer mediator. He convinced me to walk away.
He is the type of influencer you need every day on your side. What an impact he had in my terrible teen age era. While he rests in heaven, he is not forgotten.
The Ultimate Truths in Life 