It’s been three whole weeks since I started teaching a section of Interpersonal Communications at Southern Utah University.
The opportunity to teach as I worked towards earning my master’s degree was one of the biggest reasons why I brought my family to SUU. Upon graduation, I felt that this program would best prepare me for landing a job back at BYU-Idaho or in a PhD program elsewhere.
As I plan, prepare, and teach my lessons each week, I can’t help but to reflect on the educators who have most influenced my life and teaching style. Almost everything I do as an instructor is because I watched and took note of those who were teaching me.
It was in the seventh grade that I first thought, “Being a teacher would be a pretty cool job.” No doubt, that idea was brought forth because of my social studies and language arts teacher, Joe Matot.
Mr. Matot was actually in his first year of teaching. He perfectly illustrated how an educator can connect with students and use that relationship to inspire them to be better. He was pretty much my hero for the rest of middle school, and because of that, I always worked my hardest in his classes so I wouldn’t disappoint.
In fact, when I was in the seventh-grade, Mr. Matot taught me an invaluable lesson that forever changed my life and became the focus of my cover letters for my grad school applications.
In my language arts class, we were assigned to deliver a “how-to” speech. After delivering the speech that I invested minimal effort into preparing, Mr. Matot asked me in front of the entire class, “Do you know what reaching your potential means?”
I responded to the question the best way I could, using basketball and sports analogies to explain the definition of the word potential. My teacher then proceeded, “Reaching your potential means you have reached beyond your limits and become the very best you can be. Hayden, you are smart and funny and have the potential to be or do anything you want. But you have some explaining to do.”
I grew increasingly embarrassed and uncomfortable as Mr. Matot continued to lecture me in front of the class. “Why did you cheat yourself by goofing off? Since you obviously didn’t learn anything from this assignment, I hope you learn a lesson about wasted potential.”
The lesson Mr. Matot taught me in that moment has proven far more valuable than anything else I learned in middle school, and it continues to influence my life in many ways, demonstrating the lasting influence of educators in the lives of their students.
My determination to earn my PhD stems from my desire to become a professor whose teaching and mentoring influences the lives of students. The knowledge and wisdom that my teachers, professors, and coaches have shared have positively impacted my life and shaped me into the man I am today. Even years later, they continually inspire me to improve. From my seventh-grade teacher, Mr. Matot, to my professors at BYU-Idaho and SUU, I have witnessed first-hand the positive influence that educators can have on the lives of those they teach and mentor. My career ambition is to return to BYU-Idaho as a professor because I know it will help me to continue realize my potential, all while helping my students realize theirs.
Thank you, Mr. Matot, for your friendship and guidance all these years. Not a lot of people stay close to their seventh grade teachers, but I am eternally grateful that I have.
Hayden Coombs 