My Most Favourite Teacher

Throughout my life I have been blessed with many amazing teachers.  My mother and father have taught me more than anyone about life, love and learning.  My friends, who are many and varied, and who all have so much to offer, have helped me to grow as a person every day of my life.  I know that I had great elementary school teachers because  I always enjoyed going to school, and I still remember many of them and the things they taught me.  Throughout high school I was involved in numerous extra-curricular activities, many of which mattered much more to me than my actual classes.  I am grateful to my voice teacher for her patience and willingness to put up with my grand ideas, to my piano teacher for her love of music and her desire to instill it in all of her students, and to my many coaches who most likely groaned when they saw my name on the roster, but who never stopped helping me to become a better athlete.  In the classroom, some of my teachers were better than others, but all of them helped to shape my high school years for the better.  My university undergraduate degree really helped me to appreciate all of my former teachers, and I'll leave it at that.  :)

Despite the influence of so many wonderful teachers in my life, it really wasn't hard to pick my favourite one.  She is one of the people whom I admire most in the world.  I met her through the program I volunteer with in Brandon, of which she happens to be the coordinator.

Barb is one of the most down-to-earth, hardworking, and caring people I have ever met.  She is so busy looking after, learning about, and working for everyone else, it's hard to imagine her ever doing anything for herself.  A former teacher, she is the epitome of what I hope to be someday.  Barb is patient, soft-spoken, and thoughtful.  She is eager to get to know people, and remembers everything that you tell her.  When I have a conversation with Barb, I know that she is listening to and cares about every word I am saying.  This is a quality I truly admire and I find most people don't have it.  Often, people are so worried about the next thing they are going to contribute to the conversation, or they are so wrapped up in their own little world (or texting, listening to music, etc.) that they hardly hear what you're saying.  As my Mom often tells me, "Conversation is an art.  Unfortunately, most people just don't have that skill anymore."  Well, Barb has it.  She is one person I could spend hours and hours talking to.  She is well-read and interesting.  She has great things to talk about, but more importantly, she listens.

Barb is not afraid to go above and beyond what her job requires.  She is only part-time, but I know she works far more than full-time hours.  Once, when I mentioned to her that she really didn't need to do this extra thing, that it wasn't part of her job, she replied "Oh it's all part of the job.  Don't ever get a job working with people if you're planning on sticking to the things on your "To Do List", or the number of hours you get paid for.  These things have to get done somehow, they just have to."  Barb knows that it takes an extra-special effort to get a job really-well done.  I've never met anyone who is more thoughtful than Barb.  This woman honestly thinks of everything.  I'm not sure if it's because of  her many years of experience, or perhaps that she spends countless hours pondering all things in their entirety, but nothing goes unnoticed by her.  It doesn't matter what anyone brings up at our weekly meetings, Barb has certainly already thought of it, and then some.

The quality I admire most in Barb is that she cares an unbelievable amount about what she is doing.  She loves her job, the families that she works with, and the people who work with her.  She comes to work every day with a big smile on her face even when she is having an off-day (which she must sometimes, really).  She is always positive and a delight to be around.  She takes the time to remember small things about people, just to make their day.  Barb is working at this job because she truly wants to be there.  It's certainly not for the money, or because it's an easy job.

Barb is an inspiration to everyone around her.  She has taught me so much about the person I am, and the person who I would like to become.  Barb has made me realize that it is possible to make a difference, and that nothing done in kindness goes unnoticed.  She, and the program she so passionately coordinates, mean so very much to me.  I am grateful for her ongoing influence in my life.