My teaching influence resides in my personal experiences through school and extra-curricular activities, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm” Ralph Emerson. This couldn’t explain the enthusiasm and passion that some of my high school teachers had for the material they were teaching me. I had a fantastic English and Science teacher in high school – ones who are interested in all things art like movies, plays, books, music. Since then I have taken a keen interest in the beauty, significance, complexity, and human learning that all forms of art offer. This immense base of learning comes in film, music, reading, writing, plays, and many others for me. It is because of these teachers that have sparked the teaching journey in English that I wish to pursue. Something as simple as wearing a crown and holding a sword while reading the characters of Shakespeare’s MacBeth in a funny voice goes to show how far passion for something like an English play can go for a student. Or movies recommended to go and watch for simple films like the Station Agent, can really help a person grow even deeper into some of the art that is already being discussed. It’s something I have never been introduced to in my life and to open up that door is the reason why I want to continue that pathway for other students who don’t have that opportunity.  For some students it may be the emotional connection, others social connection, or academia connection, but no matter the connection teachers provide all these supports and connections to students that is really exciting to think about. A good teacher will open the doors to so many opportunities in the world that were not seen before and so I look back on my personal experience with gratitude because I am able to hold on to the interests of film, reading, and music for the rest of my life, which all started for me with these teachers. Education opens the gateway to another dimension that allows for the learning to begin. When I think of teaching, I always try to think of the film that I learned as a student and how it always ties back to the human connection in teaching.