The most well-known heroes of children are those who have incredible strength or x-ray vision, such as Superman, Batman, and Spiderman… My hero, on the other hand, is simply a regular guy with no powers or abilities to fly. He lacks supernatural gifts instead possessing a strong heart that strongly influences my personality. Mr. Hanh is one of my favorite teachers; he taught me English when I was in elementary school.
I was 14 years old when I had him as a teacher of English. Mr. Hanh was not only a great teacher but also a good friend who always helped and listened to students’ problems. Besides, he always found the way to make the class more fun and interesting. For example, instead of making us do grammar exercises all the time, he often asked us to play games related to grammar or did some activities to help us remember new vocabulary such as singing songs, acting out dialogues… All of those made me enjoy learning English and now I can say that English is one of my favourite subjects.
Mr. Hanh not only helped me with schoolwork but also gave me some life lessons which are still useful until now. One of the most important things he taught me was to never give up when encountering difficulties. Whenever I had any trouble, he always encouraged me to try my best and never give up. Thanks to his teaching, I have become a more confident and determined person.
I first met him when I was in the second grade. I was a feisty and slow child, and I was in class for mischievous kids who couldn’t last more than one week under any teacher’s supervision. The school administrator made an exception to my class so that a male instructor may take over temporarily. He had the name of a woman, Hanh, which startled me since most males had names like “Theodore” or “George.” In order to create havoc in the classroom, I tried my best to scream as loudly as possible while shouting out his name.
I wanted to see how he would react. Unexpectedly, instead of getting mad, he started laughing hysterically. I was surprised and a little embarrassed. From then on, I realized that this teacher was different from the others.
After class, he came up to me and asked why I had acted out in class. I told him that I didn’t like school and that I thought it was pointless. He looked at me intently and said, “You know, life is like a book. If you don’t read it, you’ll never know what’s inside.” His words struck a chord with me, and I began to see life in a different light.
From then on, Mr. Hanh became my favorite teacher. He was always patient with me, even when I made mistakes. He would often tell me stories about his life, and I would listen eagerly. I looked up to him as a role model and someone who had experienced a lot in life.
Thanks to Mr. Hanh, I gradually began to see the value of learning. Although I was still mischievous at times, I started paying more attention in class and doing my homework. My grades slowly improved, and by the time I graduated from elementary school, I had become one of the top students in my class.
I will never forget the impact that Mr. Hanh has had on my life. Thanks to him, I realized that life is like a book – if you don’t read it, you’ll never know what’s inside. Thanks to him, I am now a successful student and I continue to strive to learn more every day.
He was furious when I arrived, and he asked me to repeat what I’d said in a screaming voice, but my response was only: “Nothing but the truth at home,” and I forgot. He got into a terrible temper because he used all his strength to swing a huge stick at my arm. ‘You’re as obstinate as a mule,’ he curses violently. Of course, I felt hurt and immediately walked out of class with the assumption that he had no right to treat me like that.
At home, I complained to my mother about the teacher’s injustice. She listened to me carefully and then she said: “It is not easy to be a good teacher because he has to control so many students in the class. You should have more understanding for him. Try to be a good student and do not make him angry again.” Her words made me think about what I had done wrong. From that day on, I became more serious in my study and tried my best to get along with the teacher. And gradually, I found out that he was actually a very nice person.
The biggest impact on my life came from a simple incident that happened when I was in elementary school. It taught me an important lesson about life and how to get along with others. This incident also changed my attitude towards my studies and made me a better student. I will never forget what happened that day and the lesson I learned from it.
I took a swim in the afternoon to get away from my problems. I had a cramp, so I tried to get help but no one heard me. Mr. Hanh showed up at precisely the right time and saved me from drowning by coming to my rescue. It was a miracle. If he hadn’t shown up when he did, I wouldn’t be able to tell this story.
From that day on, I always looked up to him and treated him like my teacher. He not only saved my life but also helped me change my perspective on life. I used to think that life was all about fun and games. But after that incident, I realized that life is precious and should be lived with purpose.
Mr. Hanh is the biggest impact on my life because he changed the way I see the world. Without him, I would not be the person I am today. Thank you, Mr. Hanh!
