Scientist Stephen Hawking acknowledged that sometimes his teachers could be boring.

He also acknowledged that sometimes he was a lazy student- and sometimes fell in the natural throes of wavering motivation.

In a video for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize, which is often referred to as the Nobel Prize of teaching, Hawking describes how one memorable teacher changed the course of his life forever when he was 14-years-old.

“At St. Albans School there was an inspirational math teacher Mr. Tahta. He opened my eyes to the blueprint of the universe itself- mathematics.”

“Together, we built my first computer. It was made with electromechanical switches. Thanks to Mr. Tahta that I have become professor of mathematics at Cambridge in a position once held by Isaac Newton. I have spent my life attempting to unlock the mysteries of the universe. When each of us thinks about what we can do in life, chances are we can do it because of a teacher.”

The Varkey Foundation will announce the winner of the second annual coveted teaching prize this weekend in Dubai. The winner will take home a prize of $1 million.

“We need great teachers to grow great minds, or we will never solve the world’s most pressing problems,” Hawking said before announcing the finalists earlier last month.

Ten teachers from across the world are in the running for the honor.

Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

3/8/2016