Junior year was not easy for unconventional reasons. I had anxiety. I was depressed. And, at times, I was passively suicidal. Like many, I kept all of this in. I was really good at that. Pretending everything was okay. Almost no one could see through me. That was, of course, except for Mr. Morrison, my AP psychology teacher who was also impressively intuitive. “How are you doing?” When he asked, it wasn’t casual. He knew something was up and he actually cared, ready to offer a sympathetic frown, a few words of comfort, and well-thought-out solutions. He mostly did this to my friend Elaina, who was more open about all the problems she had going on. I would just listen in on their conversations and offer any advice. In short, I would try to be Mr. Morrison. And that’s what gave me direction in a time when I didn’t have any. He helped me figure out who I wanted to be. But what does this have to do with being a great teacher? Well, to me, being an emotionally healthy and caring person is strongly correlated with being a memorable teacher. And that’s what Mr. Morrison was: a genuine and loving human being. However, if I could articulate this all into a list I would say the following:
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He was a therapist. Everyday he would listen and offer advice on anything. He was non-judgemental and cared genuinely about every person, because to him every person has value.
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He was a coach. He would be very encouraging. Any win for a student would be a win for him.
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He was a friend. He made you laugh. He made you think. He made you happy. And, more than anything, he made me better. A better student, friend, and person.
Overall, Mr. Morrison showed me how to live happily and with purpose. I would not be where I am without him. Thank you Mr. Morrison!