Mrs. Budisch , my sixth grade teacher, was exceptional because she always had my back-even if she didn’t have to. By doing that, she made me feel like I was worth more than just her next paycheck.



In 6th grade, she motivated people by simply treating us like we were worth her effort. I think it was the way that she took time to relate to her students, or the way she had special connections with each and every one of us that made sixth grade more successful. But, whatever it was, it made you want to work harder because you appreciated her patience, and also made you proud of yourself for working hard.



She loved to play music in class, come up with fun projects, and make learning more interactive and enjoyable. For example in order to study the artistic culture of the ancient Greeks, we researched and made our own “Greek pottery”. It helped me learn because the activities made learning personalized. Something we could learn, and use to define ourselves with at the same time.

This would make her a wonderful teacher by itself. But, that’s not where she stopped.


Even after sixth grade, Mrs. Budisch still always greeted us in the halls, and asked us about how our pets were doing (she loved dogs). However, seventh grade wasn’t as easy due to my new teacher. She tended to give a poor grade to anything that she didn’t particularly want to read or think about. She was especially difficult for me because I struggled with severe ADD. I would write the best papers I could only to have them halfway crossed out with red ink when I got them back- because she had her own different idea of what a paper should be like or communicate. Most other people in my class experienced this too.



It wasn’t a huge deal, but personally, it didn’t make me feel very good about myself after a while. Mrs. Budisch, somehow, found out about the problem I was having with trying to satisfy my new teacher. After school, she tracked my teacher down and administered a strict lecture to her on proper paper grading and how every person has different paper writing styles.



Mrs. Budisch taught me through this act not only that I can fight for the things I need when necessary, but also that I don’t always have to be alone in doing so. Because sometimes, people and their needs are worth more than a paycheck.



Mrs. Budisch and I still visit each other to this day. She makes sure to tell me about things that made her think of me. I can still tell her that the thought of her still helps me write my papers. Just like this one.