THE TEACHER WHO CHANGED MY LIFE BY KYLE DANTE

Throughout Coventry High School, I’ve considered Mr. Wilkinson an inspiration to my overall growth as a person. When I first met him, I felt terrified and wanted to make a good impression; while drama was a hobby, I didn’t think much of it originally. However, the decision to learn under his wing proved to be my finest decision. He’s looked out for me like an extra parental figure due to whenever I’ve felt down and has given me advice to persevere. From the three years of knowing him, drama itself has been representative of reality itself: there’s a start, middle, end, goals, and obstacles on a journey through life. As a result of meeting him as an individual and having him as a teacher, Mr. Mychael Wilkinson is my favorite teacher for his contributions to the fine arts committee and heart shown to me during a rather tumultuous time.

THE TEACHER WHO CHANGED MY LIFE

BY KYLE DANTE

    Few students are lucky enough to say they have a teacher that has truly changed their lives. For me, that is Mr. Mychael Wilkinson. Mr. Wilkinson is the Drama and Film teacher at Coventry High School; his nontraditional teaching methods and benevolence towards his students has completely transformed me. My life and attitude on reality has changed thanks to this fantastic teacher and caring individual.

    Over the past 37 years, Mr. Wilkinson has participated in over 100 productions and during his CHS tenure, he’s directed over 30 plays. Besides directing, he’s taught students the fundamentals of acting and film while simultaneously teaching them how to be comfortable in their own skin and express themselves in various ways. With his drama classes, he teaches students to be more comfortable and confident as actors. In Literature and Film he covers the fundamentals of film, with examples such as cinematography and camera angles, shown through various films which best exemplify the subject matter. When I was younger, I saw drama as a form of entertainment, causing me to be immersed with the stories told and the characters. By uptaking drama as a subject, Wilkinson’s lessons have made me more confident as an individual; I’ve also come to respect film as an art than as a child. Since first meeting Wilkinson in September 2014, I’ve become inspired to study filmmaking in college due to these classes heightening my passion towards the entertainment industry.

    Wilkinson’s personal passion of theatre drives him to treat both his actors and students as adults. Not only viewing the plays as professional works of art, Wilkinson also aspires for students to both understand and respect the work put into theatre. Pursuing professionalism, he desires for his students to grow as individuals. He finds methods to keep his students engaged with the very thing he loves, such as cracking a sarcastic quip when necessary. I respect Mr. Wilkinson for his grand efforts towards his classes and productions. In fact, his drive has served as a starting point for me to mature after struggling at home and school for years.

    Throughout Coventry High School, I’ve considered Mr. Wilkinson an inspiration to my overall growth as a person. When I first met him, I felt terrified and wanted to make a good impression; while drama was a hobby, I didn’t think much of it originally. However, the decision to learn under his wing proved to be my finest decision. He’s looked out for me like an extra parental figure due to whenever I’ve felt down and has given me advice to persevere. From the three years of knowing him, drama itself has been representative of reality itself: there’s a start, middle, end, goals, and obstacles on a journey through life. As a result of meeting him as an individual and having him as a teacher, Mr. Mychael Wilkinson is my favorite teacher for his contributions to the fine arts committee and heart shown to me during a rather tumultuous time.