‘Crazy science teacher’ inspires essay

Laguna Beach High School student Chloe Cunningham was selected as one of three finalists in the “My Teacher, My Story, My Life” essay contest from Cox Communications and TNT, which invited students to submit essays about a favorite teacher who made a dramatic impact on their life.

The contest was announced in August and invited Orange County high school students to submit 500-word essays that were judged based on five categories, ranging from creativity to grammar.

The contest drew essays from students all over south and central Orange County.

Chloe chose to write about her former science teacher, Patricia Twitty of Thurston Middle School.

At an awards event on Friday, Chloe read her essay aloud, and Twitty shared why she went into teaching and what teaching has taught her.

The grand prize winner was Helen Cai of Rancho Santa Margarita.

Chloe’s essay is printed below.

A REDEFINING TEACHER

Teacher. Noun. One who teaches, especially one hired to teach.

Perhaps a handful of times in one’s life one experiences the “stereotypical teacher.”

It might be the geeky math teacher, the laid-back history teacher or even the “bore you to death with grammar” English teacher.

A week before school started, I received my schedule. Third period. Science. Ms. Twitty. Incidentally, Ms. Twitty was “the crazy science teacher.”

On the first day of school she said: “I want to get to know you guys! I want to have a close relationship, and I want you to know all about me!” She then spent the whole 52-minute period telling us her life story.

It was quite a story. Woven throughout the tale were lively facial expressions and over-the-top hand motions. I realized then this year would be beyond interesting.

Ms. Twitty would do anything to get her students to learn. One day we conducted a lab, testing Newton’s Second Law. “Molecules of a higher concentration want to move where there is a lower concentration, resulting in flight.” We spent the gorgeous, crystalline day outside, paper airplanes vying against each other.

Eighth grade went by in the blink of an eye.

Everyone grew up a little more, preparing himself or herself for the transition into high school.

During conversations one could hear my classmates (myself included) saying “Oh my gosh, we are so over Thurston Middle School!” But the way everyone said it gave the slightest hint they wanted to stay there forever. I know I did. It was because my “crazy science teacher” changed my life.

And in my heart I know I wasn’t the only one who was touched.

Unfortunately, I realized this the last week of school. It happened when I was sitting at my desk, second from the front, sixth from the door.

While classmates were casually chatting, I looked at Ms. Twitty, then looked around the room noticing all the projects hanging decoratively; remembering the incredible experiments we had conducted. A smile spread across my face when I realized my life was indelibly changed.

The enthusiasm she’d used to mold our minds, and the loving hands that touched our hearts had me convinced. I grew tremendously as a person throughout the year, and I truly owe it to Ms. Twitty. The dedication she gave her students, and all the energy she mustered up each class so she could truly “teach”, makes her one of the most devoted and inspirational people under the sun.

To me, she isn’t “the crazy science teacher” anymore. She is “the passionate one,” and now I feel I have a piece of that passion. Ultimately, I can truly say she is my friend.

So, the ordinary out-of-the-dictionary definition for teacher simply wouldn’t do. It needs to be something like: Teacher. Noun. Someone who fulfills her life doing something she loves, while inspiring others and changing the world one person at a time!