I always wanted to be a teacher. When I
was very young, um my grandmother had a
really big porch and basically we would
play school. I was the teacher. And the
other thing that I've always loved is
sports. So it was kind of a perfect
combination for physical education, my
love of teaching and my love of sports.
I was teaching and coaching. One of my
mentors said to me, "You're good at
this. You need to be teaching teachers."
I remember specifically when I came to
Auburn, they talked about the Auburn
family and I was like, what is what's
this about? I don't Okay, there's
they're a little wrapped up in this
Auburn family thing. And it didn't take
long at all for me to understand what
that's about. We talk about it in my
classes all the time being part of the
Auburn family. I've just embraced that
whole concept and I feel part of it
since I came here. I keep a folder on my
computer that has emails from students
that they've written after they've moved
on either about their families or their
jobs and and different successes. One of
those that kind of stands out to me is
from Ethan Taylor. He said, "Hey, Dr.
Brock, I hope all is well. yesterday I
accepted a position as a PE teacher at
AR Johnson Magnet School and as the
athletic director and he says starting
from the bottom now we're here. Thank
you for pushing me and never giving up
on me Dr. Brock.
I mean that's what it's all about. The
things that students say
afterwards and how much they appreciate
the time that you've spent.
It means a lot. I think sometimes that
our students feel like we're just here
to teach them and then after that they
leave and I try to explain you're you're
always part of the Auburn family. I can
share their stories with my students and
their successes
and you know then every now and then I
just go down when I need a little boost
and read the love letters.
Receiving this award is uh is very
humbling experience and I think the most
important uh essential part to me is
that it comes from my students. The
letters and everything that they wrote
so willingly and the things that they
said brought tears to my eyes that they
thought so much of their experience that
they've carried the things that we
talked about into their life. I think
part of the Auburn mission that we talk
about is educating students and
preparing them for life. So I try to do
that as much as possible. My name is
Sher Thornberg Brock. I'm an associate
professor in the school of chinesiology
and I am the recipient of the Gerald and
Emily Leechuk endowed presidential award
for excellence in teaching.