All professors wonder if they are making a difference in the lives of their students. Dr. Carina Anttila-Suarez loves being a Biology Professor at Skyline College but wonders if her teaching impacts the future of the students in her classroom. Carina was recently rewarded with the answer to this question when her former student Laurie Gillis won the Future Science Teacher Award for 2014 from the California Science Teacher Association (CSTA). Laurie contacted her former professor to let her know that the award application essay was based on the effect Carina’s teaching had in her life.
“I wrote about my experience in your classes in my application essay. It turns out I received the award and they quoted my essay on the website(!). They didn’t include your name (unfortunately), but this little excerpt is about the significant impact you made on me and I just wanted to tell you what an amazing and inspiring professor you were for me. There were a lot of little moments in your classes that have stayed with me and made such a positive impact on my life/career. I can’t thank you enough for those experiences.”
Carina celebrates Laurie’s accomplishment and works hard as a Skyline College faculty to give her students a similar experience!
Article by Carina Anttila-Suarez
