The Teacher

    

            There is one person that I can honestly say has influenced my life in both a big way and a positive way. This person, as surprising as it sounds, comes from the Junior High. His name is Mr. McMahon. Mr. McMahon was one of the best teachers that I have ever had. He taught history in a way unlike any other teacher that I had ever had. Also his optimistic view on life was very infectious and got me to become more involved in school and sports. 

            In Junior High, Mr. McMahon was the Track coach. He encouraged me to join the team, so I did. He was an amazing influence on me. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't have joined Track, or basketball or any other sport. He taught me that while sports are a greater burden on our shoulders as students, it also gives us stability and something that we can be proud of about ourselves. I know that without sports, I wouldn't have what little confidence that I have today. However, I was only able to do Track one year at the Junior High because I dislocated me knee right before the season started the next year.

            Even though Mr. McMahon wasn't at the High School, he still was the biggest influence on me there. The effects of his teaching and coaching even had ripples that affected me at the end of my senior year today. Because of his influence, I joined Track in High School and I am going to the state competition in discus. In his class, he pushed me harder than I had ever been pushed before in life. By the end of the two years in his class I had the top grade. I learned hard work in the class room and how to achieve excellence. I discovered that I could achieve anything if I just keep my goal in mind and give it enough effort. Perhaps the main thing that I learned from him, however, was to put effort into both sports and schooling. You need to have balance in your life. Having just one or some other thing in your life is not enough. You need to balance your life with what needs to be done (school) and what you want to do (sports). And it was Mr. McMahon who joined these two worlds to make one. 

            Mr. McMahon also taught another important lesson. That lesson was to find joy in everything. Anything, no matter how bearable, can become bearable if we can find joy in doing it. So, I learned to derive some joy from school work. That has allowed me to accomplish things that I wouldn't normally be able to do. Without the influence of Mr. McMahon in my life, I would be a very different person today.