An African American A+ rated teacher always remembered the intrinsic lessons that her first-grade teacher gave her. Terion Williams emphasized the importance of having someone to look up to and how the impact of a teacher on a student is a unique one that is undeniably important in a January 3 interview with Orlando Spectrum News 13.

Williams began talking about how she conducts herself with her students as a third-grade teacher at Lake Weston Elementary school. She said, “I can step back and watch them. They know, okay, well, this is the expectation and just seeing them grow is absolutely amazing. I love it, every moment of it.” She continued to thank her first-grade teacher, Ms. DeRosier, who inspired her to pursue a career in education. She said that DeRosier made her love learning and taught her things that she still carries with her as an adult. 

“It’s very difficult to describe how good it feels to just be that little kid’s favorite person to see first thing in the morning and as they’re leaving, they want to speak to you — they want to say goodbye.”

Williams added, ​”It isn’t just about being a good student for me – it’s about being teachable, and that’s something you have to take with you for the rest of your life.”

The third-grade teacher’s mother works at Lake Weston Elementary as well, and she told the outlet that her mother could see her passion and that it was priceless to be able to work alongside her. “She loved every minute of it because I’m her only child. So being able to be near me – to be able to watch me?” She explained, “She was ecstatic and is still ecstatic, and because it was her idea, she likes to be involved – ‘yeah, I told you this was your thing.'”