The teacher who showed me how to be myself

Contributing beauty writer Keeks Reid reflects on how the best teachers, like her favourite languages teacher, Ms Salmon, can influence us way beyond our school years

The first day I met Ms Salmon (or Frau Fisch, as we affectionately called her) is ingrained in my memory. I was in Year 7 – a form class of skinny little 11-year-olds – and Ms Salmon was a bright-eyed, recently graduated languages teacher who leapt into our classroom unaware that she was about to be propelled into the realities of south-east London schooling.

I was in Ms Salmon’s class between the ages of 11 and 18. She started off teaching me French and later I also took German with her. To be honest, I think if she’d taught pencil sharpening, I still would have chosen to take her lessons. She was enigmatic but strict. She often taught us through the medium of song (even now, when I need to remember something, I’ll hum it in a little tune).

I’ve never met anyone so unapologetically comfortable with being exactly who they are. She wasn’t afraid to stand out while others just went with the flow.

Ms Salmon made me feel seen – it was easy to get lost in a school of 1,700 students, but I felt she really cared about each student she taught.

Sometimes, if I was in town at the weekend, I would hear a beep and see her waving frantically at me out of the window of her orange VW Beetle. “Hi, Dolly!” she would shout (she called all of us “Dolly”). I would wave back and pretend to be embarrassed in front of my mates – but secretly I’d smile to myself.

When I had some problems with a group of girls, her room was always the first place I would run to. “You’re amazing, Dolly,” she would reassure me, while I made myself a slice of toast. I somehow never questioned why her classroom had a toaster.

The importance of having a teacher who truly cares throughout your school years sometimes isn’t really felt until you leave. I would tell her about every achievement: “Frau, I’ve been made head girl!”; “Frau, I’ve got a summer internship!”; “Frau, I actually have a boyfriend!” I just wanted to make her proud of me.

The impact a good teacher can have on your life is second to none. Ms Salmon definitely made a huge splash in mine.

“I felt she really cared about each student she taught”

Feeling inspired by Keeks’ story? Like Ms Salmon, you could help to support, influence and educate the next generation. To find out more about a career in teaching, search ‘Get Into Teaching’