Trying to think back of just one person who was instrumental in helping me learn is not an easy task. I think the ones who were most instrumental in my learning were the many great teachers I have been fortunate to have. A common thread among these teachers is their belief in my learning abilities. I knew that my teachers had high expectations for me and I wanted to meet those expectations. When I performed well, I received praise from these teachers. I knew these teachers cared about me and believed in me thus making me believe in myself. I thrived in school because I knew they cared about my learning. I hope that my students also are aware of how much I care about their learning.