Davis Abraham: I took a random political science course in my third year of college to fulfill my semester requirements.  While I always loved social studies, international relations, government, etc., I was a computer science major, looking to become a software developer. Dr. Julian's Introduction to International Relations class changed my perspective and essentially guided me to where I am today. What was going to be a minor in political science, turned into a second bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and now a career in philanthropy/international development spanning nearly 18 years. He is still my teacher and mentor—and, fortunately, I have the privilege of saying my friend.

Kyle Gunnels: Looking back at my life, there aren’t enough words to describe all of the ways my teachers had an impact on who I am today. For instance, I vividly remember my third grade teacher going above and beyond to make me feel welcome in a scary new school as “the new kid.” And, I know for a fact that I would not be who I am today—and especially that I would not have the career I have—without “Mrs. Mac,” my freshman year journalism (and later, high school newspaper and yearbook) teacher. So many of my key interests and passions can be traced back to the hours spent in her classroom, where she always treated students as real people—I’m forever grateful for that.

Hannah Lee: Every single one of my teachers has helped shape who I am today—I owe my teachers the world. When I reflect back, there are a few key people who have had an outsized impact on my life. One such teacher, David Schoem, taught me the power of community and equity-based approaches to organizing and service. From him, I learned how to understand my white privilege and what it means to be an ally. As I think about the most influential educators in my life, three things remain constant: 1. They perfectly balance challenge and support, 2. They are extremely patient and empathic, and 3. They have taught me how to embrace change, ambiguity, and step out of my comfort zone.

Andrea Osorio: In high school, a U.S. history teacher honed my skills in telling facts from fluff, and how to root out bias in the retelling of history. This drove me to a career where I can work to rectify the impact that harmful narratives have had on communities for centuries.

Kristen Titus: I owe a debt of gratitude to the many teachers who encouraged my curiosity, who taught me to question, and who helped me to see a world beyond my lived experiences. I carry that with me today, and am driven by their insistence that I have a personal responsibility to ensure that everyone has equitable access to these same learning opportunities.