It was the rudest, kindest and most true statement on my report card, aside from ‘consistently distracts other classmates’ and ‘needs to work on her maths’.

But mostly our English teacher Mrs Smythe was notoriously dedicated and incredibly patient.

On Friday we celebrated World Teacher’s Day, a day to recognise the huge contribution these professionals make to our lives.

Teachers are the people who know us better than ourselves at a time when we’re still growing into our personalities.

They drive us to be better, to learn the ropes of reality and often become the people who guide us through some of the most dramatic times of our lives.

For six hours a day, five days a week, they’re the people who strive to expand our knowledge when most of us are too busy looking out the window or kicking our classmates under the desk.

As a child teachers were formidable creatures with eyes in the backs of their heads, class was far more regimented while we learned the building blocks of life.

Moving into adolescence they put up with us while we take our spots at the centre of the universe, experimenting with regrettable fashion trends and often becoming a shoulder to lean on.

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In university, for those that choose, lecturers become more like friends – fellow intellectuals and harsh critics with assignments that keep you up all night and challenge ways of thinking.

In all phases of life teachers are by our sides, and we know for a fact that most go above and beyond – often working late hours at home to plan lessons and spending their own money on school supplies to make classes as fun and educational as they can be.

A good teacher takes the time to right your wrongs, both on a test paper and in the playground.

So give your teacher a gold star for all their hard work – if you didn’t, take the weekend to wrap up your homework and thank them at roll call on Monday.

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