Mrs. Janet Johnson

My teacher this year, Mrs. Janet Johnson, who loves to laugh and have fun, has taught me this quote well. Like Lincoln, she too believes that education is the most important thing Americans can be involved in. Also, they both have a love of books. She's my language arts, social studies, and reading teacher. Mrs. Johnson said so on Channel 3 News when our school was interviewed as one of seven Lincoln Legacy schools in Michigan. Not only her views on education, but her teaching of education is so amazing too! I can always ask her anything about what we're learning and she'll clarify it and make sure I understand.

When you first meet Mrs. Johnson you might think to yourself how can she be a hero? Yet she's my hero. She always says, "Don't judge a book by its cover." I personally think she should be as famous as any singer or movie star but not for the same reason. She's an interesting teacher (interesting in a good way). She's not scared to do something others might not try. On President Lincoln's 200th birthday celebration she hired a carriage to drop off "Lincoln" and we were the only school to do anything like that. A quote of Abraham Lincoln's that reminds me of her is, "I am young and unknown to many of you. I was born and ever remained in the most humble walks of life. I have no wealthy or popular relations to recommend me."

Mrs. Johnson and Abraham Lincoln both exhibit perseverance of death. Mrs. Johnson's father died in the morning of an October day. Lincoln's mother, first girlfriend, and son's Eddie and Willie, all died. When Mrs. Johnson's father died, she didn't miss too many days of school, only three. Then the weeks after it, she was strong yet gloomy and stayed on track. Her son lives in Washington, DC, gave her an idea for a project that make her feel refueled and re-energized. When Lincoln's mother died, it was hard for him to deal with her death because he was only nine years old. His father remarried and his new stepmother inspired a love of reading and learning. Then after Willie died, he went into an emotional downturn. He had his presidency and the Civil War to help him stay distracted from Willie's death.

Mrs. Johnson, my Lincoln hero, has impacted my life and the lives of others by teaching us to go beyond our normal limits of thinking, even telling us openly that we can do better and expects us to do so. She has us think outside of the box and she comes up with kooky games to get our "brain juice" flowing. Mrs. Johnson has also impacted my life and other peoples lives by teaching us to be more responsible for our work and our actions. She's not afraid to give us warnings or timeouts for doing something wrong.

People should be like Mrs. Johnson and President Lincoln and show these traits because they will help you to get farther in this world. In the real world, you will have to persevere through many challenging obstacles and being told that you will need to step it up and do better. Also, in the real world, you need an education to get a good job. Not just going to college but to do your very best there to achieve your goal in life and getting enough respect to truly be free. "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves."