Brett Cazelet ,Bill Fiepel and Stephen Knight. I would love to choose just one but the fact is, is that they have all taught me different aspects of History that have heavily influenced me to become a teacher. All of these men were amazing teachers and I would be lucky to be half the teacher any of them were.

I had a 10th grade (15 and 16 year olds, I think) teacher named Irwin Hoffman who taught a class called Humanities, which combined English, History and Literature. He really opened our eyes to analytic thinking. He showed us that many of our values were ingrained rather than acquired through study, applying reason and testing them. He constantly challenged us and never allowed us to make a statement without backing it up. I remember that several students had complained in class one day about potholes in the student parking lot. The very next day we were greeted by a number of shovels in the classroom, and we spent the entire 2 hour class period taking dirt from one area in wheelbarrows to the parking lot and filling holes. "Doing is much more valuable than complaining," was Mr. Hoffman's lesson that day, and I have always remembered it.

My piano instructor. She was a once-a-week influence on me from the time I was 7 until I went to college. She was really the first adult I had a mutually respectful relationship with, so I think for that reason alone she stands out in my mind. She was also instrumental in shaping how I would interact with all other adults as I matured, laying the foundations for the rest of my life.

The one's I've never met.

My head of middle school. He litterally saved my life

In elementary school i had a teacher who said that i could do anything i wanted if i just believed hard enough that i could do it. Now every time i want to quit something because i think i cant do it, i think of him and what he said ,and i dont give up until i have really really tried with everything i have.

My College Warden, I was seventeen and for a silly reason VERY angry and determined not to take my place at Cambridge, I wanted to study medicine at Aberdeen (all my A levels had been Sciences except my History which I could not leave behind , I loved it). The Warden came to my home with his son to talk me into changing my mind .After about 3 hours we reached a compromise. I would take up my place but take Law instead. He was a wonderful man but I will never forgive him. I still hate Law when I return to the States I intend a change of direction in my career

I have to pick three. One was my high school Anatomy and Physiology teacher. He opened my eyes to the incredible things that go on inside the human body. I have ever since been fascinated by diseases, surgeries, and the general workings of the human body. I have been able to understand much more about my loved ones medical conditions thanks to him. Second, is my culinary arts teacher. She taught me to be unafraid of cooking without a recipe, and that there are very few things that I can screw up that cannot be fixed. Although it was in the context of cooking, it can also be applied to life. Third was my freshman English teacher. He was the toughest teacher I have ever had. He demanded the best work that we could perform, and then told us how we could be better. I would get back papers that had so many red marks that I could barely see what I had originally written. I was used to getting A's on papers previously, but he was dishing out C's D's and F's to everyone. I had to step up to the challenge, and become the best writer I could be, just to pass the class. I now have good writing skills, good grammar and spelling, and I don't allow myself to submit anything for work (or school when I was in it) that doesn't live up to my standards. He was ruthless, but I turned out better because of it.

It was actually my English Teacher in junior high. I was going through a lot and she helped me by writing my problems though poetry. I have wrote poems ever since then and it helps me a lot. Also my Art Teacher she helped me in so many ways and taught me I can do anything I want to do. They were great teachers and I miss them to this day!

Two teachers, both in high school. I went to a private, Christian school and have always struggled with "religious" issues. I had a Bible teacher in the 10th grade, who gave us one assignment for an entire semester, which consisted of him giving us a list of over a hundred contridictions found in the Bible and our assignment was to find the answers, or rather, find other passages to correct or explain the contridictions. Of course, by the end of the semester the entire class was in a panic. He calmed us down and let us know that he was proud of our efforts. He also said that, while the Bible is an important tool, that it was filtered through imperfections and we have to find our faith within ourselves and always wrestle with it because we would spend the rest of our lives striving for goodness and making mistakes. We need to know how to pick ourselves up and hang in there. Faith should not be as easy as flipping a switch. If it were, what would be the lesson? What would be the reward?... In one semester, he taught me more about faith, the Bible and my own struggle then anyone else has my entire church-going life. I also had a history teacher that walked me through a class that I was failing. He didn't shame me, he was very compassionate. I will always remember his kindness.

My science teacher Miss Quinn. She helped me get my work experience at Portsmouth Uni and makes sure I work my arse off whenever I am in her lessons so I do myself proud. More importantly though, when I was going through a bit of a rough patch, she stayed behind after school with me all the time so I could do my homework. She saw the cuts on my arms, but never pushed for information. She offered help, and offered for me to talk, but wasn't upset when I declined. She is a wonderful person, and the best teacher in the world to me.

Those teachers who seemed genuinely committed to their subject and enjoyed the lessons. I was lucky at high school because all my teachers were young, really friendly and enthusiastic. They treated us more like peers than subordinates and we felt really confident about being able to talk about anything with them, or express our opinions without being judged. Many of the older generation of teachers were the opposite, in that they expected blind obedience and tolerated NO deviation from the ideas they taught. We felt like they weren't accessible.

Brad Herman. Owner of Coltcreek Diving Newmarket Ontario, (shameless plug here, he's got a website). He convinced me to turn pro, saved my ass on one occasion and taught me how to appreciate Wisers, which I'd previously thought of as a completely indigestible liquid. Ohh yeah, he also taught me that making money isn't what matters, but how much you love what you do that counts and that's priceless.

None, I'm afraid, not whilst I was at school. I didn't have a very good education in the school I was unfortunate enough to have to attend. It was pretty bad. I did manage to scrape through with a few qualifications, but the teachers didn't really care about the kids. It was a time when there was a lot teachers striking about pay and conditions, and it seemed we were the ones to suffer for it. Many times, we were just left to our own devices, running riot left unsupervised. Fortunatly, my negative experiences did not dissuade me from continuing my education once I'd left school and I now have several IT qualification, Spanish, Business Management, Pattern Cutting, Jewellery, and I am now doing a creative writing course.

My college English teacher. He made me realize even more how important it is to use English correctly especially in a professional setting.

My college professor that taught "The American Novel" was amazing plus he introduced me to some great authors like Kerouac, Kesey, and Vonnegut.

Mr Gordon Smith, Creative Writing, Gainesville High School, Gainesville Texas. He taught me that it was okay to be different and that most of the time, our heart is right. He was the only teacher that told me to do what YOU want to do, not what others want. I wish I would have listened to him, and wrote more.

Well...even though I'm still in middle school, I'd have to say my band teacher, Mr. Destito. He taught me not to take the easy way out all the time and to live life to the fullest. Mr. Destito is a great person, and he's the only teacher I can truly respect at my school.

My high school Speech, Debate, and Theatre teacher.

I was a slow learner until my second grade teacher, Mrs. Hatvany, took extra time with me and taught me to read well. I never fell behind again! Today I'm a published poet, many times over!

Harold A Moody, biology teacher at the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, NY. He gave me confidence and added to my love of learning. Bill Heald, English Professor at Ohio Wesleyan University. He kept me in English rather than taking more business classes, explaining that I could always pick up business. Bill, sorry, you were wrong. I love english and it has given me a lot of satisfaction; but it took me years to catch up on business..

Mr. P my band director. He's amazing.

The one I had for English Lit. in high school. He was filthy rich and did not need to work--he taught for the love of teachig and it showed. He also had a very kind heart. My mom had cancer when I was in high school, I lived by myself (she was in a hospice) and took care of the house, worked full time, had a very active social life, and managed to pull straight A's--I used to pretty much walk around in zombie mode because I was EXHAUSTED. I was a smarta*s and I fell asleep in class a lot, so I wasn't very popular with my teachers. He was the ONLY one who bothered to ask what the heck was going on with me. The others just labeled me a "druggie" and couldn't have cared less. He was an excellent teacher and a good person. A very good role model for other teachers and students. Evertime I catch myself being too quick to judge, I remember him and how he treated me.

My social studies teacher Mr. Hilbrands in the 12th grade. He was the one who told us about how to not "count" on social security for our retirement and how saving for this was imperative. I've never forgotten that lesson and I am much better off because of it. Great question

My third grade teacher Mr. Olsen, he told all of the kids in his class "Never be afraid to ask questions, even if you think it is wrong, cause it might turn out to be the right question."

My high school english teacher Miss Laycock (yes, that really was her name). She was a very strict elderly spinster and she taught me how to write an essay. She had favourites in my class and i was not one of them. In fact she ignored me. I worked really hard in her class, just trying to get her attention. But ignoring me was the best thing she could have done. It meant i worked harder and learned more. And knowing how to write a good essay stood me in very good stead for the rest of the time i was a student, and contributed to my getting good grades and getting a place at Oxford University.

My second grade teacher. I still contact her and such. She is a wonderful woman. In fact, one of her grandchildren that was born after she had me in class and such has my name, coincidence? I like to think not =D Also my super intelligent debate coach. I wouldn't be as well versed without him.

2 actually, one a college professor who was amazing in his approach and stories from the trenches, and a high school English teacher I liked her so much I opped to take her creative writing course the next year. I hope she is still teaching she was great!

Myself.(im a teacher).And because of that, i am what i am now.

Mr.Freeze,he would let me stand up in front of his class and teach it.

Mr. Lingenfelter sixth grade South Park in Kansas!!!

The amazing Murray Tinkelman. He was my illustration professor in college. He was a 60-something grumpy jewish guy that looked like George Carlin. He was absolutely the most influential guy I've ever met in terms of brutal honesty, and genuine encouragement.