What is one lesson you learned in school that you'll never forget?

(Daily Life : Simple Life)
School Lesson, Simple life, Simple Words,

Question:
The major battles of the Civil War and the elements in the periodic table may be distant memories, but your time spent as a student continues to enrich your life in countless ways. This month, some people share THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT STUCK WITH THEM and shaped who they are today.

Answer:

My seventh-grade social studies teacher asked the class to be ready to discuss a current event every Thurs¬day, even though only a few students would be called on, at random, to share their thoughts. On Wednesday nights, I would study diligently just in case, and the couple of times he picked me, I knew exactly what to say. As a result, I earned an A in the course. The take-away: Always be prepared.
Dedria M. Harrod
Temple Hills, Maryland


After he caught me day-dreaming during class, my junior-high English teacher told me, "Don't waste
any opportunity to learn." He taught me that listening attentively is an invaluable skill. I still follow his advice and try to pick up some bit of knowledge from every-one I meet.
Sonia Contreras Toledo
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Don't be difficult. At age 12,
I was moody and starting to feel adolescent rebelliousness. Early in the school year, I decided I didn't like my gym teacher, so I refused to cooperate in class. I shouldn't have been urprised to get an F on my report card, but I was. More than 50 years later, that memory still stings.
Diane Cooley
Claremont, California

It's essential to maintain a sense of wonder at the world. At the amazing Montessori school I attended from ages 2 to 11, we didn't have textbooks or desks. We learned math with abaci and geography with massive puzzles. In science class, we went on nature walks, collecting leaves and identifying them. The teachers taught us to marvel at everyday miracles all around us. It's something I still do today.
Michelle Dunbar
Asheville, North Carolina

When I was in college, my education professor told me that to be a good teacher, you must find a way to appreciate every person you instruct. This rang true to me. As I recalled my favorite teachers, I realized that all of them had been incredibly kind to each of their students. Throughout my 20 years of teaching piano, I have tried to keep this lesson in mind. I've been blessed with students of wide-ranging talents and personalities, and they are all dear to me.
Karen Dingley
Providence, Rhode Island

Never Interrupt anyone who 15 speaking-especially if the person you're interrupting likes to give detention. Bethany Smith
Beaufort, South Carolina

When I was in the fifth grade, my teacher once began class with the words "Ladies and gentlemen." I, along with my peers, was confused: Weren't we only boys and girls?
She then told us that if you treat people like ladies and gentlemen, they will generally behave that way. Over the years, I have found that she was right.
Deborah Moran
Houston, Texas

HER ANSWER: One morning during fourth grade, my teacher handed out a list
of questions and told us to read through them before answering. I went to work without reading the whole list. Minutes later, when I was only halfway done, she asked us to put our pencils down. It turned out the last "question" actually read, "Do not answer any of these
questions." Ever since, I've always read the instructions before beginning a project. It has helped me avoid countless missteps. STATS: Age 60; married with three grown children and four grandchildren; retired;
Jeannette Gosnell
Livermore, California.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST TALENT? Telling stories. I can entertain and get myself into trouble. I have a tendency, mostly with my kids, to exaggerate to get my point across.
HOW 00 YOU FEEL ABOUT GETTING OLDER? I feel every inch of 60.
But my Valley Girl voice makes me sound younger. On the phone, I can pull off 25.
 

How to balance a checkbook and follow a budget. I picked up this financial know-how in a high school elective called Consumer Life Skills. The teacher gave us a "job" with a salary and had us determine how much we could afford to spend on rent, utilities, transportation, food, and so on. I was stunned to see what everything really cost. To this day, I keep track of exactly how I spend my cash.
Demarie Parks
Bellevue, Washington

As a five-year-old in Catholic school, I hated having to work on my penmanship. But that practice paid off: My handwriting gives my letters a distinguished appearance.
Ron Iaboni
Mount Vemon, New York

My school required its students to perform community service, and many
kids, including me, balked at the task. But after volunteering at a homeless shelter, I noticed that I slept better and smiled more. The experience taught me that volunteering should be a part of every education. It's a gift to others¬and yourself.
Jordan Miraglia
Boston, Massachusetts

In third-grade math class,
I learned how to multiply. In ninth-grade health class, I learned how to not multiply. Both lessons were priceless.
Lisa Steinberg
Champlin, Minnesota