If you've ever had a teacher who came across as frightening, mean, or intimidating, how has this teacher affected you?

This teacher could have been at any grade level. He/she could have been the best teacher ever, but his/her personality was the opposite of sweet, kind, and easily approachable.

Occasionally I remember certain teachers who have had a lasting effect on me—both positive and negative. I remember the 2nd grade teacher who humiliated me in front of my peers on more than one occasion. I remember the 6th grade reading teacher who had a sign near the clock that asked, “Time will pass, will you?” (This is a minor example of his not-so-encouraging motivational tactics.) I recall the high school teachers who were so incredibly burnt out that they ensured their students’ lives were miserable.

Then there’s the high school English teacher who scared the living stuffings out of me because she was unpredictable—I never knew if she was going to be helpful or bite my head off whenever I approached her. Yet, she is one of the ones who shaped a huge portion of my grammatical competence.

The list of kind, compassionate teachers I’ve encountered outweighs the other ones. Yet, it seems like for me, I have a visceral reaction whenever I remember the pain associated with a lesson learned. The few cruel teachers have caused certain major turning points in my life, and continue to affect me long after the bell has rung.

When you consider the teachers who have weaved their ways into your life, how have the harsh ones shaped who are today? What has been the lasting impact?