The Galveston County Daily News

I have many memories of growing up in the Texas City School District. The Hype Squad, A Few Good Men, Ed (Colman) at the football games waving the “TC” flag proudly.

But my most memorable by far was my seventh-grade Texas history teacher Nikki Shepherd. She was by far the most influential teacher that I have ever had.

She, along with my parents, helped me get on the right track after failing my first year at Blocker Middle School.

She made me promise her that I wouldn’t accept average. Ms. Shepherd told me I would at times need to sacrifice to get greatness.

I learned so much from Ms. Shepherd the first year that I took her class, but even more the second time around. She taught me to set goals and told me that many may not agree with me, but that I should keep going anyhow.

She told me that I needed to work twice as hard to get where I was trying to go and should never take a person’s word for anything without researching for myself. The very next year she was no longer with the Texas City school district, but her spirit remained there through me and the other children whose lives she touched.

Aundra Hawkins