Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.
Having influence on someone is something that comes with a lot of responsibility, which can seem daunting to many, but James Hogan takes this responsibility on as a challenge.
At the age of 32, older than a typical recruit, Hogan decided to become an Army Ranger where he earned his Coveted Ranger tab. His time in the military still has an influence on how he perceives everyday life today.
“Little things aren’t that big of a deal, like standing in line at a grocery store isn’t going to make me mad,” Hogan said. “Those are minor things compared to some of the training I’ve been through.”
His service and pride is reflected through the Ranger Creed that hangs on the wall of his classroom and his “Rangers Lead The Way!’ – RLTW” email signature. He even promised his 2023-2024 classes that he will recite the creed at the end of their school year.
Hogan is a ninth grade Civics and 11th grade U.S. History teacher. Freshman core class teachers are already considered influential, as every single freshman is required to take their courses. Ninth grade teachers are not only shaping how these students will go about their highschool careers, they’re introducing students to the rest of their lives each day.
Civics is the study of civil law and civil code. Hogan understands that this subject can be mumpish for some people and actively uses peer engagement tactics and his witty personality to help students be inclined to engage with the material.
“He always made sure that I knew what was going on, and he always talked to me even when he knew I was struggling.” Sophomore Logan Pittsley said.
Throughout my education, social studies has been the hardest subject for me to engage with. When I hit my freshman year, I was not excited to have to take a class that I thought was solely devoted to learning about the government.
Though the class itself was not interesting to me at first, the way that Hogan kept his students engaged through jokes and interactive activities really helped me learn not only the material but also an important life lesson: things don’t have to suck just because I don’t like them at first.
In Hogan’s class we had to write about an issue that was important to us addressed to our city council member. I wrote about how terrible the sidewalks were near my house and how my baby brother couldn’t use them for his tricycle. I wrote to my counselor, Jenny Van Sickle, expecting no response.
The next week when we checked our emails for responses, I was beyond shocked to see that Van Sickle had not only responded to me but also shared the plans for the sidewalk renovations in our district. I was amazed at how many kids in the class actually got responses. I would like to think that the point of that lesson was to convey that if we get our voices into the community, we will be heard.
