Our Educators Are People Too by Sophia

Our Educators Are People Too by Sophia - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

A small habit I’ve picked up within the last year that has dramatically improved my academic success has been just chatting with my teachers on a regular basis. Most students I see are one of two groups of people: those who are silent and focused, or loud and sociable. Of course, some lay in-between, and those people in particular have massive growth both personally and professionally. I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum, bouncing between them as I grew older, but what I didn’t realize was just how much my peers focus on each other rather than the amazing educators before us. I started talking to them, not about missing assignments or making excuses for poor grades, but really chatting with them on a casual level. Whether it be about class topics with my AP History teacher, opening a bookstore with my AP Language teacher, or talking about personal experiences and connections with my AP Psychology teacher, these individuals are not just teachers. They are not just authorities in my life. Teachers are what create a school, and I wish I had seen that sooner.

Teachers are what make my school experience and influence how I remember it in the future. Learning about these individuals who dedicate their lives to expanding the minds of the youth in America has been what inspires me to do my best. I can relate to them more than what topic they teach or what wisdom they have to offer, but we are just people. We like art, we like music, we like food, and we like learning. I’ve noticed that just knowing things about my educators beyond the beginning of year slideshows they put on has motivated me to do better in every aspect of life. It’s made me more engaged in learning, more passionate about my own beliefs, and more compassionate about those around me – and my peers have noticed. My view on life has changed entirely, with just a 10-minute conversation with my teacher in every classroom. Truthfully, I think everyone should try it out.

My chemistry teacher gave me the biggest chance I could have possibly imagined. I already had a love for the arts, more specifically music, and we bonded over it every class period. When walking into his classroom, I would always watch out for the music he was playing, analyzing as the rest of my peers sat on their phones in their seats or chatted loudly with a neighbor. Before the bell rang, he would come up to my desk and ask, “Hey, you know this one, bud?”, and I would either give him the song and artist or shake my head with a smile. He would sit next to me, and we would talk on and on about the song, what it stood for, and how it was relevant at the time it was released. These little moments were the highlight of my day, both learning and connecting with someone on a deeper level. Chemistry took first place that year, over all my grades, with the highest percentage overall. So, this year in August, I pledged to continue that search for connection with my educators: It couldn’t be going any better for me.