teaching

In his book, "Longitudes and Attitudes," Friedman includes a touching editorial about the high school journalism teacher who inspired him. Clearly this is a favorite (and underrepresented) topic for him.

I couldn't imagine myself as a high school teacher, but I do have fond memories of a few teachers. Even if my chemistry teacher was sketchy and my political science teacher effectively killed my intent to double-major in that subject. A decision which I would deeply regret were it not for my chance to study abroad.

A recap of the favorites for those who did or did not know me in those formative years :
1. the biology & anatomy teacher for whom I memorized at least two boxes of histology slides because I couldn't see the difference between smooth muscle and multi-layered epithelial cells
2. the art teacher who ultimately did not let me take her class pass/fail
3. the calculus teacher who covered nine blackboards worth of proofs everyday
4. the English teacher who introduced me to The Great Gatsby
5. the physics teacher who only looked at those who listened in class and who could quote the prologue to the Canterbury Tales