The Teacher Who Lit the Fire: How One Professor Shaped My Path to Screenwriting

Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.

There are moments in life when someone believes in you so completely that their conviction becomes your own. For me, that person was my college professor, the one who didn’t just see my potential—he insisted on it.

I walked into his classroom uncertain, hesitant, and full of half-formed thoughts about writing. I had stories buried inside me but wasn’t sure they deserved to be told. But he saw through my doubts. He recognized something in my words that I hadn’t yet come to trust, and with unshakable confidence, he encouraged me to screenwrite.

More than just teaching technique, he taught belief. He made me understand that writing isn’t just about structure or format; it’s about feeling, about honesty, about the courage to put something real on the page. He challenged me to think deeper, to refine, to rewrite—not because my words weren’t good, but because they could be exceptional. And he never let me settle for less than what he knew I was capable of.

His encouragement was a gift, one that continues to shape every script, every sentence, every idea I bring to life. Because of him, I don’t just write—I believe in my writing.

To the teacher who changed everything: Thank you for giving me the confidence to tell my stories. Thank you for convincing me I was meant to write.