The Teacher Who Changed My Life | Dan Lok
Entrepreneur and author Dan Lok shares a life-changing moment with his teacher Ms. Fallon who saw in him the potential he never saw in himself. This is a story about the power of teachers.
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00:00 I got boldly I wasn't good at communicating with people.
00:02 I was very afraid because I couldn't speak a word of English.
00:06 So at the time I remember I had to deliver a little speech in order to pass the class,
00:15 you know to get the grades.
00:16 And every time I had to give a presentation or anything like that I would skip the class
00:20 because I was so afraid.
00:21 I would just hide in the bathroom because I didn't want to be found.
00:23 And Miss Fallon saw that and she was like, "Well what are you doing Dan?
00:27 You need to do your speech."
00:30 I said, "Well Miss Fallon I can't do it.
00:31 I'm so afraid.
00:32 I'm so scared.
00:33 I just have stage fright."
00:35 She said, "You know what?
00:36 If you don't do the speech I cannot let you pass."
00:39 She said, "Why don't you come to my office after class and I would help you.
00:43 I would coach you."
00:44 And she did.
00:46 And she was helping me overcome some of my shyness.
00:49 I still remember I was very nervous.
00:52 My palms were all sweaty and my face looked pale.
00:55 And I did it!
00:56 She let me pass.
00:57 And she was the first one to believe in me that, "Hey you know what?
01:00 You could do better.
01:02 Don't let the circumstances hold you back."
01:04 And she took the time.
01:06 That's very important.
01:07 Fast forward many, many, many years later.
01:10 What brought you to school?
01:11 I said, "I want to come to thank you."
01:12 "Oh, it's simple."
01:13 She said, "For what?"
01:14 And I told her the whole story.
01:16 Remember back then?
01:17 And she said, "Yeah of course I remember."
01:20 And she said, "I always saw something in you.
01:23 That you've got potential.
01:24 You're a great kid.
01:26 And I gave her two books."
01:27 And she was shocked.
01:28 "What is this?"
01:29 I said, "I wrote these two books."
01:30 And so she was very, very emotional.
01:34 So that was a very special experience.
01:38 As a teacher myself, to so many people, young people, entrepreneurs around the world, I
01:43 understand the impact that you could have on somebody by one gesture, one encouragement,
01:50 one quote, one story.
01:51 Spending a little bit more time with a kid after school, just giving him a little bit
01:56 of encouragement, she believed in me.
01:58 And I think don't underestimate the power of having someone believe in you more than
02:02 you believe in yourself.
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