Assignment 19- The Words of a Role Model- Hayden Caldwell

In elementary school, my favorite class was always gym. Not just because I’ve always been an active person who can’t stand sitting still for long, or because I have always had an unrivaled passion for sports. My gym teacher in elementary school was a woman by the name of Mrs. Duckwall, and she was the kindest person you’ll ever meet. She enjoyed having fun with her students and her class always provided a break from the constant stress elementary school me felt about schoolwork and social stuff (trust me young Hayden, it only gets harder from there). When I first found out she was retiring at the end of my 4th grade year, I was devastated. I couldn’t imagine an entire school year without seeing Mrs. Duckwall at least once a week. She was someone I always looked up to. That is exactly why when she pulled me aside on the last day of school before she left her words stuck with me to this day. She told me to keep on smiling and continue working hard and that she saw lots of potential in me. It meant so much to me to see someone I looked up to validate what I was doing at a young age. I have always tried to keep her advice in mind with whatever I do because nothing beats a smile and a good work ethic.