Editor’s Note: In honor of teacher appreciation week, five NWN staff members have chosen a teacher to write about. These teachers have made an impact on our lives, and we would like to show them our appreciation. Look for more articles throughout the week.

Math teacher Ryan Geu is to say in one word — cool. No, he isn’t just cool. He is nice, fun, entertaining, and one of the most kindest teachers I have ever met. He has this very chill, relaxed attitude, and is never in a hurry to teach us what he has to teach. Mr. Geu is actually a very skilled teacher as well, and his techniques are very helpful.

When I first found out that I have him as a teacher, I didn’t know who he was at all. People told me he was very nice and all, but that’s all I heard of him. And then the year started, and I found out why people called him so nice. Not only is he a good teacher (he actually does know what he is doing), but he has a very gentle and relaxed attitude towards the students. He never yells at us. Instead, Mr. Geu softly asks us to do what he wants us to do, and to this day, that has never failed in my class. His relationship with his students is that of someone who doesn’t just come to school to teach, do the job, and go home. No. He wants his students to understand, to learn, to benefit from his lessons.

Mr. Geu has this special way of connecting to his students, whether or not he does it on purpose. Sure, he is a great teacher, definitely is wonderful to his students, makes sure they do well, but he also keeps them listening. He doesn’t drone on and on about a boring mathematical concept, but instead makes it as interesting as he can. Every other week or so, when he feels that the class is doing well and is moving at an excellent pace, he decides to award us with an interesting and absolutely hilarious story about his fun childhood with his best friend from high school and their crazy adventures, or he quizzes us on random trivia questions which are actually quite intriguing . Plus, the highest scores in the class get an extra credit point! Not to mention the funny incidents he experiences with his sons and his wife.

He knows how to get us to love his class. He knows what it must be like to be a teenager in a math class that they don’t even understand too well. Mr. Geu appreciates his students. He hands out blow-pops to all of the students who gets A’s on their tests. He makes his students feel comfortable in a class that they probably don’t even want to be in.

Admit it, high school math is torture. His lessons are like having a conversation with him. And he gets to know his students, and lets his students get to know him. He even let his students pick the T-Bay offer he put up! And he actually went along with it, even though it meant that, if anybody bid, he would have to let one of his students shave his head and design his beard.

Mr. Geu believes in his students. He has faith in them, and that confidence and faith that he has in his students gives them the faith and confidence to do well in the class. He gives the students chances — he allows them to prove their skills because he understands that everyone has bad days and that we all have the weight of other classes on our shoulders. Because of his chances, and the opportunities he gives his students, the students realize that they want to prove how great they are in the class, and actually try to do well in order to get Mr. Geu proud of them. His students love him.

Because of his appreciation for our efforts, and because of his hard work in making sure that we all do well and excel in his class and the material we learn, I appreciate him, his efforts, and his work. I am so grateful for having Mr. Geu as a teacher and I hope I have the same opportunity again later in my high school career.

Thank you, Mr. Geu!