Journal #7

Esmeralda Santa

Ms. Nargiza Matyakuboya

English 21003, Section M

30 October 2017

Journal Entry #7

                                                               What makes a good educator?

              “Front of the class” was a very inspirational and beautiful film. The film brought back the 

importance of what it means to be an educator and who can be considered an educator. An educator 

does not only have to be a teacher, but can be anyone who teaches someone some kind of value. To 

be considered an educator you have to be doing it because you want to make a difference and not just 

for the money. In the film, Mr. Cohen proves many times how much it means for him to become a 

teacher. Even when many people do not believe in him, such as his father, he proves them wrong. 

This shows that Mr. Cohen wants to be a teacher to educate his children and make a difference in 

their lives. Also, another important point of being an educator is being capable of working with 

anybody. One powerful scene in the film that touched this point was when Brad Cohen’s principal 

made him go onstage and made the entire school understand what Brad was going through. Unlike 

Brad’s previous teachers or principal, he made Brad feel okay to be different. 

                Of all the teachers I have had in my life, I can say that I was able to have one teacher who 

was not only my math teacher, but also my mentor. Sometimes I find it to be unbelievable how Mrs. 

Markinson came into my life when I was going through the most difficult times. During my final 

years in high school, I lost confidence in myself and my self-esteem was at an all-time low. There 

were times when I felt that I was not doing anything with my life and then there were the times when 

I just wanted to give up. It was during these hard times that Mrs. Markinson would not only try to 

cheer me up, but would constantly remind me that I was capable of doing great things. She would 

force me to tell her how my day was going and always had corny jokes to tell me. I came to realize 

how much she really cared about me when she signed me up for a scholarship. I never thought that I 

would get this scholarship, but in the end when I did she was the first to congratulate me. It was 

because of her that I am currently in City College with a scholarship. Mrs. Markinson was there to 

celebrate my achievements and comfort me in my losses. She was the best teacher I ever had and one 

I will never forget.