For ELA teacher Samantha Bennett, her mom was the reason she got into teaching. 

Since she was a kid, Bennett said she and her mom were always close. She would go to her with questions or even just to talk. Watching her mom’s dedication and love for teaching inspired her.

 “My mother, she is so wise,” Bennett said. “She was also a teacher, so that’s kind of why I got into teaching. She taught at Oak Park for years and years and years.”

Since she was a kid, she looked up to her. She watched her mom prepare lessons and grade assignments. 

“She just always has a lot of good lessons, and she’s a problem solver, and she’s a very strong person,” Bennett said.

She shared one motivational saying her mom would always tell her. 

“I always love my mom’s quote. She quotes Maya Angelou, ‘When somebody shows you who they are, believe them the first time,’” Bennett said.

Bennett’s mom helped encourage her when she needed it. When she had a problem, her mom helped her through it. 

“She is very influential,” Bennett said. “She’s a problem solver. She was a bit of a helicopter mom growing up. he always wants to know what’s going on, and she wants to solve your problem with a five-step solution.”

She said she always asked for her mom’s advice and took it. 

“She’s probably impacted me the most,” Bennett said. 

Bennett and her mom are still close. She said she talked to her mom most weekends and even on weeknights.

“I know I will always be able to talk to her about anything,” Bennett said.