--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Growing up in Highland Park, in high…" description: "\"Growing up in Highland Park, in high school, I had some very influential teachers: I had a math teacher who taught calculus that helped me learn to be ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/john-m-grunsfeld-8114_chemistry_growing-up-in-highland-park-in-high-scho_677377.jpg" --- # Growing up in Highland Park, in high school, I had some… ![“Growing up in Highland Park, in high school, I had some very influential teachers: I had a math teacher who taught calculus that helped me learn to be in love with mathematics; I had a chemistry teacher who inspired us to work what was in the class and to go beyond.” quote by John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/john-m-grunsfeld-8114_chemistry_growing-up-in-highland-park-in-high-scho_677377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/john-m-grunsfeld-8114_chemistry_growing-up-in-highland-park-in-high-scho_677377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/john-m-grunsfeld-8114_chemistry_growing-up-in-highland-park-in-high-scho_677377.jpg) > “Growing up in Highland Park, in high school, I had some very influential teachers: I had a math teacher who taught calculus that helped me learn to be in love with mathematics; I had a chemistry teacher who inspired us to work what was in the class and to go beyond.” [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Influential teachers can ignite passion for subjects, shaping lifelong curiosity and love of learning. **In simple terms:** Great teachers spark lasting love for a subject. Key Takeaway Seek mentors who inspire curiosity. Themes education inspiration learning mentorship Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - choosing a college major - career counseling - personal development - STEM outreach Key Concepts pedagogy passion growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you find mentors who spark your curiosity? - What steps can you take to deepen your love for a subject? A Different Perspective Not every teacher connects with every student; personal effort matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chemistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemistry/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Math teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math-teacher/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [If I'd loved my chemistry teacher and my maths teacher, goodness knows what direction my life might have gone in. I remember there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/if-i-d-loved-my-chemistry-teacher-and-my-maths-teacher-goodness-knows/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [Sport was an integral part of school life. The most influential teachers were not necessarily the PE teachers, but the teachers who helped me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/sport-was-an-integral-part-of-school-life-the-most-influential/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [I had three influential teachers. The first was Uta Hagen. The second two, Bobby Lewis and my late husband, Charles Kakatsakis, were both from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-squibb/i-had-three-influential-teachers-the-first-was-uta-hagen-the-second/) [June Squibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-squibb/) > [I'm convinced that some of our greatest and most influential teachers show up in our lives disguised as people we resent or even despise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-convinced-that-some-of-our-greatest-and-most-influential-teachers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mom was a chemistry teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shriya-saran/my-mom-was-a-chemistry-teacher/) [Shriya Saran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shriya-saran/) > [The people who taught really knew their stuff. My chemistry teacher, Frank Wade, was actually a chemist. I was so lucky in a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-people-who-taught-really-knew-their-stuff-my-chemistry-teacher/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I remember my seventh-grade chemistry teacher told me I'd never amount to anything. I thought, 'Hmm. OK.' That gave me motivation to prove her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-remember-my-seventh-grade-chemistry-teacher-told-me-i-d-never/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I had a great chemistry teacher and found it really interesting to learn how things are made up and how they work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-berglund/i-had-a-great-chemistry-teacher-and-found-it-really-interesting-to/) [Kelli Berglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-berglund/) > [My chemistry teacher wanted me to do chemistry, and my art teacher wanted me to do art. Fashion seemed like a good in-between -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-cornejo/my-chemistry-teacher-wanted-me-to-do-chemistry-and-my-art-teacher/) [Maria Cornejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-cornejo/) > [I really enjoyed hanging out with some of the teachers. This one chemistry teacher, she liked hanging out. I liked making explosives. We would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/i-really-enjoyed-hanging-out-with-some-of-the-teachers-this-one/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [I woke up to the world of science when my high school chemistry teacher introduced me to the elegantly ordered periodic table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadore-singer/i-woke-up-to-the-world-of-science-when-my-high-school-chemistry/) Isadore Singer > [When I was 14 my mum told my chemistry teacher she thought it was a waste of time girls going to university because they'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dido-harding/when-i-was-14-my-mum-told-my-chemistry-teacher-she-thought-it-was-a/) [Dido Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dido-harding/) > [I get it everywhere, 'Look at the math teacher. Look at the science teacher.' I get it everywhere I go, which I can kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-ingles/i-get-it-everywhere-look-at-the-math-teacher-look-at-the-science/) [Joe Ingles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-ingles/) > [“He didn’t have any friends at home. He was overweight and the kids at his middle school often teased him about his size. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/he-didn-t-have-any-friends-at-home-he-was-overweight-and-the-kids-at/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [“Taking pity on me, Carissa kept her voice low. “You were calling out for Daemon.”I dropped my face in my hands and moaned. “Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/taking-pity-on-me-carissa-kept-her-voice-low-you-were-calling-out-for/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) ## More by John M. Grunsfeld > [I'm absolutely compelled for NASA to send international astronauts to Mars to find out if Mars ever harbored life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-m-absolutely-compelled-for-nasa-to-send-international-astronauts-to/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [Sciences are being unified by the search for life in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/sciences-are-being-unified-by-the-search-for-life-in-the-universe/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [The most striking thing to me about human space flight and my own personal experience is that I've seen dramatic changes on Earth. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/the-most-striking-thing-to-me-about-human-space-flight-and-my-own/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [At the age of six, I declared that I wanted to be an astronaut. My mother thought that was just fine, as it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/at-the-age-of-six-i-declared-that-i-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut-my/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I can't imagine anywhere I'd rather be than outside the space shuttle in my space suit next to the Hubble Space Telescope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-can-t-imagine-anywhere-i-d-rather-be-than-outside-the-space-shuttle/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [Going to Mars would make NASA great again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/going-to-mars-would-make-nasa-great-again/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [Hubble uniquely has been able to look in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting a nearby star and figure out what's in that atmosphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/hubble-uniquely-has-been-able-to-look-in-the-atmosphere-of-a-planet/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I got lucky and got assigned to Hubble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-got-lucky-and-got-assigned-to-hubble/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I see no difference between scientific exploration and human exploration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-see-no-difference-between-scientific-exploration-and-human/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [Being an astronaut, there are not a lot of things that have really shocked me in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/being-an-astronaut-there-are-not-a-lot-of-things-that-have-really/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I kind of feel like I found my cause in life servicing the Hubble Space Telescope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-kind-of-feel-like-i-found-my-cause-in-life-servicing-the-hubble/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I'm an incurable romantic. But I'm not an adrenaline junkie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-m-an-incurable-romantic-but-i-m-not-an-adrenaline-junkie/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [One of the things that happens in space is that there is a fluid shift. You get a lot of extra pressure, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/one-of-the-things-that-happens-in-space-is-that-there-is-a-fluid/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [The things I like to do involve a lot of mental focus, a combination of physical and mental challenge. That is what mountain climbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/the-things-i-like-to-do-involve-a-lot-of-mental-focus-a-combination/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [Once in a while, the universe lets you be free alone and in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/once-in-a-while-the-universe-lets-you-be-free-alone-and-in-peace/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) [Explore all 84 John M. Grunsfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) ## More Chemistry quotes > [In my opinion, sexiness comes down to three things: chemistry, sense of humor, and treatment of waitstaff at restaurants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/in-my-opinion-sexiness-comes-down-to-three-things-chemistry-sense-of/) [Rhoda Janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [If you want to change something by Tuesday, theater is no good. Journalism is what does that. But, if you want to just alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-want-to-change-something-by-tuesday-theater-is-no-good/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Sigourney Weaver is a wonderful person. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to meet and work with such an amazing actress. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-henn/sigourney-weaver-is-a-wonderful-person-i-was-so-lucky-to-have-the/) [Carrie Henn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-henn/) > [With any good projects, I feel like the off-screen chemistry factors on-screen. It's great when you don't have to force it, but when it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldis-hodge/with-any-good-projects-i-feel-like-the-off-screen-chemistry-factors/) [Aldis Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldis-hodge/) > [I've always been interested in medicine and was pleased when my brother became a doctor. But after thinking seriously about that field, I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-medicine-and-was-pleased-when-my/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [“Nernst was a great admirer of Shakespeare, and it is said that in a conference concerned with naming units after appropriate persons, he proposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-partington/nernst-was-a-great-admirer-of-shakespeare-and-it-is-said-that-in-a/) J.R. Partington > [It is possible to cause seemingly biochemical changes through human emotional involvement. You literally have changed his chemistry by being his friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/it-is-possible-to-cause-seemingly-biochemical-changes-through-human/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [We create a standard for how we want to do things and everybody's got to buy into that standard or you really can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/we-create-a-standard-for-how-we-want-to-do-things-and-everybody-s-got/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [I enjoy Dinosaur for what it is. 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