Example essay; great teachers

Teaching Greatness Throughout an average student’s life, she will have fourteen teachers growing up. Not to mention the countless other teachers she will have contact with and the abundant teacher’s aides. Some may not leave an impression, some may cause feelings of distaste, and some may even leave a bitter memory. But to experience a teacher so great that he or she leaves an impact on the student’s life is rare nowadays. I was lucky to have four such teachers. In kindergarten, I had a teacher that doted on her students. She instilled in us a love of reading and learning. She taught us to be kind to one another. She taught us how to be tolerant, at such a young age, of others and of things not yet understood. She had a way with making every single child in her class of twenty something four and five year olds feel special. She is a teacher that will forever be with me; her way of selflessness imprinted on her students at such a young age. In a time where children needed extra guidance, she was there.
In fourth grade, I had an extraordinary teacher that had coincidentally been given the Teacher of the Year award. It was an achievement that was well deserved. She took the time to listen to all of her students and lavished praise when it was needed. She enjoyed being a teacher, which positively showed. It helped to enforce an enthusiastic approach to learning within her students. She gave each student special attention and took the time to understand. She encouraged my love of reading and had a never-ending library; I managed to get over one thousand AR points that year. At the end of the school year, she gave me a purple stuffed bear that for a while kept me company when I was sick and a Willow Tree ornament. Both gifts I have kept to this day as a reminder of her.
In my junior and senior year, I had a teacher that had my utmost respect. She refused to deal with nonsense from students and expected the absolute best from us. Her strictness and her expectation of solid work led me to a more critical view of my work and a much harder effort in my essays. Many teachers in high school only expected us to do the work, some did not even expect that. She taught us to be proud of what we achieve and to turn in something that makes us proud. She is a teacher that made me expect more from myself, and it is much appreciated. Those qualities she enforced proves her to be a great teacher. Although she was not my favorite teacher, what she helped us learn will always remain with me.
My senior year, I had a teacher for two periods throughout the day. He quickly became my favorite teacher as his need for knowledge was catching. He further instilled a love of learning, as all great teachers do. His passion of teaching and experiments became our love of it as well. He prepared us for college level work. He refused to quit until every student understood. I am so grateful to be soundly prepared for a college level Calculus class this semester. He is one teacher that I am grateful to have had before he retires.
As a student, I was extremely lucky to have four teachers that have impacted me so. They all share qualities that make great teachers; a passion for teaching, a willingness to understand the students, and the morale to never quit trying. It is hard to find four good teachers, nevertheless four great ones.