Living Life by Design

All through Junior High School and my Freshman year in High School, I struggled with math. I don’t know why, I just did. I ended up having to take summer school to make up a math class I received an “F” in. The teachers name for the class was Mr. Anderson. He looked like what I would picture as, a typical math geek. He wore light blue, long sleeved shirts with an ever popular, and quite stylish white plastic pocket protector. He had black rimmed glasses and a quirky sort of smile. However, my preconceived notions quickly changed as he addressed the class for the first time. Mr. Anderson told the class that his grading system was a little different than most other teachers. Mr. Anderson was grading on solely our effort in the class.

Over the next few weeks of summer school, I struggled with keeping up with the class. However, because I was to be graded on effort, I worked harder than I typically would. I asked more questions. I stayed after class to get through assignments. I worked my butt off.

At the end of summer school, Mr. Anderson reviewed my homework assignments & tests scores with me. He asked me what I though my grade should be for the class solely based on my effort. I told him I tried my best and I thought I should receive a “B” (even though my actual grade should have been a “D”). Mr. Anderson said he couldn’t agree more and gave me a “B”.

This ended up being a pivotal point in my young life. After that class, I received straight “A’s” in every math class I took throughout High School. I never received a grade lower than a “B” in any math class throughout college. Why the change? I believe that Mr. Anderson knew exactly what he was doing. He taught me that if I would work hard, and focus on the process, the results would come. I changed the way I saw math and quickly learned to trust, and the process.

Mr. Anderson could have simply done his “job” and graded me based on the work I turned in and moved on to his next class. Instead, he made the thoughtful choice to leave a legacy. He invested in changing my life. I think this was his goal all along. For this I will be forever grateful.

We don’t just have jobs. We all have opportunities to leave a legacy.

Thank you Mr. Anderson…