Most influential teacher and why?

Who was your most influential teacher? Why?

Well, I guess that would be a nun I had in my school.  I had just moved from the UK to Ireland and was 14.

She took an instant dislike to me.  She said “we didn’t ask to have you English people in our school and would be more than delighted to see the back of you”….

Also that i was  “a savage in the jungle and would amount to nothing”……just delightful for a nun.

I learned:

1. Don’t take people in uniform at face value or too seriously.  Don’t believe they took the Oath, with good intentions, necessarily.
2. Be understanding of difference.
3. Not to be racist/discriminatory.
4. Treat people with kindness and understanding.
5. Strive to do the best that I could in all that I do.
6. Be a good person. (Or good enough)
7. Religion is a man made rule book and set of beliefs, not necessarily followed by those who preach it.
8. Again, be a good enough person.
9. Go visit the jungle before I die.

I guess she gave me a challenge, and I became more than she could ever predict!