Let’s start with some context. My grades after elementary school sunk like a ship. I was a horrible student in my sixth and seventh grade years. So horrible in fact, than in eighth grade my parents and I made the group decision to start me at a new school—a smaller private school called Edgewood on the outskirts of downtown Madison, WI. Now, this was no easy transition. I didn’t know a single face in my move to this new school, and I wasn’t what you would call an extrovert. But, within the madness, one person stood out. With her dark hair, big smile, and young eyes, my math and religion teacher greeted our class.

“Hi,” she said. “My name is Mrs. Koziar, and this is my first year teaching at Edgewood.”

Awesome, I thought. In the midst of the madness, I wasn’t the only outsider.

The first few months of school contained personal trial and error. This was not only socially, but academically as this was the year I was making the change. Though struggled, I had two classes to look forward to daily. These classes made one commonality, and that commonality was Mrs. Koziar. In these classes, with how she taught, I would not only have fun but be challenged. I would not only laugh, but smack my head in frustration. I would not only fall down, but I would be picked up. There was one time where I was convinced that my way of doing a problem was right and hers was wrong. Instead of tearing me apart, she looked at how I did it and reasoned through it with me, helping us both conclude that it worked in that specific problem but wouldn’t on other problems in the future. This is one of the many examples where she acted positive when she could have just told me I was wrong and moved on.

Algebra 1 wasn’t easy. I understood concepts, but could not translate that into accurate work. Mrs. Koziar volunteered her time to stay after school and go over my tests with me. This shifted my perspective on school because I couldn’t remember a teacher who cared, and I was in a place where I needed a teacher that cared.

She said things like, “Jackson, you can do better than this” or “you’re smart, you just made a couple silly mistakes.” I started to believe in myself which was something I had (and still do) struggle with.

There was one time in particular that her extra help stood out. On that sunny June day, in which everyone was smiling, that final bell rang. That final bell signaled the end of a new year, and the end of a chapter. While the rest of my friends ran outside, starting their summer vacation as early as they could, I stayed in. On my final math test, I got a B. Mrs. Koziar inspired me so much throughout the year I decided to stay after school on the final day of middle school to make sure I understood what I did wrong. This taught me that if you care enough to ask a teacher for help, they will usually go out of their way to help you.

That was who she was. She was always willing to help. All she wanted was for me to succeed. Her bright smile gave me something to look forward to everyday, and suddenly being the new kid felt right.