My best ever teacher was incredible. She was single by choice, and dedicated her life to teaching and her church. She kept the areas separate, but her peace from her religion followed her into the school. She taught English, lit and history subjects but her real passion was music. She worked out of hours teaching music, accompanying students to external exams and performances and ran the school musical and music festival. She was tough and took no nonsense, but she was just as quick to give praise. When she looked at you, she saw you. At her funeral last year there were students that she’d taught over her entire working life, and she made all of us feel like we were seen and heard. I was so lucky to have her because she said things to me that I’d never heard in my life. That I was good at something, and she hoped I’d take a particular class next year because she was looking forward seeing my work. I didn’t get that stuff from home.