It was just another unassuming day of school, unbothered by assessments and pressure. I had no expectations. All I had to do was go through the motions. 

Until the second period had arrived, and Angela Campbell, my AP Chemistry teacher, stood in front of the class, prepared to give her last lecture.

The lecture had nothing to do with the usual molecular marvels or potion notions she taught us throughout the year. Gleaned from 31 years of teaching experience, this final lecture was the life lessons she wanted to impart to us, her last group of chemistry students at SIS.

As she began, my scattered mind narrowed. Attentively, I listened.

I.

“They see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave.” – Plato

Ms. Campbell began with hardship, her challenges stemming from familial instability. As I listened to her story, I felt a poignant fog begin to form. The air hung heavy in the room as everyone felt an unnameable emotion weighing us down.

She explained her familial struggles had created a veil around her, isolating her. She believed people would not understand the void, one she felt that no other had.

“We often assume something about people based on what we see,” Ms. Campbell said. “But that is rarely the case. Take time to get to know people and adopt a growth mindset, because what we see is only a fraction of their lives. Even beyond relationships, challenge your assumptions; you never know what life has in store for you.”

II.

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” – Ernest Hemingway

She cited studies showing that high-achieving students grouped in similar-ability cohorts showed greater improvement, and Olympic pacesetting training as evidence that competition helped attain one’s full potential. She was giving us a perspective on the benefits of being in a competitive environment. 

“But this is all part of a systemic competition that you had no say in,” Ms. Campbell said.

Her ultimate message regarding competition was not to chase the prize, the award, the “first place” decided by others. It was to embrace a competition with yourself, a rivalry between you and the you of yesterday. This was the real competition that enabled people to grow.

“Define your own system to reach your potential,” Ms. Campbell said. “Make a plan, set goals of your own. I have a little notebook where I write down everything I need to do. Even in bed, if I remember something important to do, I quickly write it in before I sleep so that I know I won’t forget it.”

External pressure in my peripheral vision could push me further than I can when I am alone, but there is only so much others can do for me. Whether it’s planning or setting goals, the internal drive to become better is the most potent of all.

“Keeping a log or a journal can help you track your progress over the years,” Ms. Campbell said. “Not only does it give you insight into your growth, but you also leave wonderful, extraordinary records of your life.” 

We looked through the pictures Ms. Campbell had taken, seeing her on trips around the world with her family, and annual logs she had kept as a student herself. It was a pinhole glimpse into the progress of her life.

Journaling and recording were not simply tools to improve myself, but also tools that serve as a light for future generations. A journey that one can share. A journey that inspires. She was encouraging us to keep these logs not only for ourselves but also to share with people and our posterity.

It is like a competition with everyone on the same side. 

III. 

“What would Amelia Earhart do?” – Angela Campbell

Ms. Campbell explained why Earhart had been such a prominent icon for her since college. She had pinned a picture of the aviator alongside those of Susan B. Anthony and others in her Stanford dorm room, a constant reminder of Earhart’s adventurous, unfettered ideals.

I could imagine her wall of inspiration, with pins of black-and-white vintage photos, each paired with words of blossoming passion. She emphasized the importance of role models and mottos, noting that they are crucial to setting direction and fostering courage. 

“I was debating the decision to move to Korea,” Ms. Campbell said. “It was a difficult decision because I had to leave my children behind, so I asked myself, ‘What would Amelia do?’ Not only would she go, she would fly the plane herself!”

Ms. Campbell’s voice faded into the distance as I was confronted with a reckoning. I was lacking direction. All this movement, all this effort for an institution that contributes to only a fraction of my life. What if I did get into my dream college? What then? It was only the starting line, but it had consumed all of me.

IV.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Ms. Campbell had three primary goals: to travel the world, to pursue a career in science, and to start a family. 

“What it means to be successful is different for each person,” Ms. Campbell said. “You may not equate being a teacher with ‘success,’ but for me, I feel a sense of immense accomplishment when I see my students grow. That is why I ask them to share their growth. I want to continue to support them, even outside my classroom.”

She had accomplished them all. Teaching students around the world about the wonders of chemistry, traveling the world with family and friends, and starting a family of her own. Her success was not defined by monetary gains or fame, but by the success she defined for herself.

There is nothing to compare when the success of one is inherently distinct from that of another. Ms. Campbell was making it clear that comparing our potential to others merely takes away the joy.

What if success was never about me at all?

V.

“I see the moon like a clipped piece of silver. Like gilded bees the stars cluster round her.” – Oscar Wilde

In a system that defines the potential of every individual, Ms. Campbell wants us to break from the template of conformity. Whether through meticulous planning or goal setting, she wants us to take the initiative to explore the unexplored.

That unassuming day had turned into something rather profound. It was clear to me that merely going through the motions would be enough; I was going to have to create them.

Despite Ms. Campbell’s inevitable absence, her unique presence and treasured mentorship will be forever etched in the hearts of the students. They will be a perpetual influence on the school community.

“No matter the circumstances you’re in, you get to define your life,” Ms. Campbell said. “Hopefully, it will turn out better, and your choices will honor your ancestors.