How Can a Person Affect Someone's Life so Much?

A student, on average, spends 1,440 hours at school. For ten months, they go five days a week for eight hours each of those days, not including extracurriculars like sports and clubs that can range anywhere from 30 minutes to five hours a day. A student spends the majority of their developing years at school with teachers, coaches, mentors and peers. School becomes like a second home to a lot of students. A teacher can affect a student's life tremendously. This is not just about students though. A student can also change a teacher's life tremendously. 

A teacher at Mt. Juliet High School, Ms. Alysha Nicholas, was asked how teaching a creative class for the past 30 years has made a difference in her life.

She said, “Teaching a creative class has truly changed my life in ways I didn’t expect. When I first started, I thought my main job would be to guide and inspire students—but over time, I realized I was growing just as much as they were.

One of the biggest impacts has been a renewed sense of excitement in my own creative work. Being around students who are experimenting, asking questions, and trying new things constantly pushes me to think differently. Their energy is contagious. It reminds me why I fell in love with creative work in the first place, and it challenges me to keep exploring and evolving in my own practice.

Teaching creativity has also taught me to be more flexible and open-minded. There’s no single 'right' answer in a creative space, and that’s what makes it so powerful. Every student brings their own perspective and style which means I’m always learning alongside them. This has helped me become a better listener and a more thoughtful communicator—skills that have made a difference not just in the classroom but in all areas of my life.

One of the most meaningful parts of teaching has been watching students grow in confidence. Creative work can be deeply personal, and it takes courage to share it. I’ve seen students come in unsure of themselves and leave with a strong sense of voice and vision. Being a part of that journey is incredibly rewarding, and honestly, their courage often reminds me to take more creative risks myself.

It’s also helped me grow as a leader. Designing lessons that strike a balance between structure and freedom isn’t always easy, but it’s taught me how to create a space where people feel supported and inspired. I’ve learned how to give helpful, honest feedback, how to manage different learning styles, and how to guide discussions that bring out everyone’s best ideas. These skills have carried over into other areas of my work and life as well.

Finally, one of the most unexpected gifts of teaching a creative class has been the sense of community it brings. Creative work can sometimes feel isolating—but in a classroom, it becomes a shared experience. People connect over their ideas, support one another, and build something bigger together. Being part of that kind of environment is something really special.

In short, teaching a creative class has made me more open, inspired, and connected—not just as a teacher, but as a person. It reminded me that creativity isn’t just something we do, it’s a way of seeing and engaging with the world.”  

Ms. Nicholas is involved with her students by working on a project with them. Photography by Ridhima Rajvanshi.

Ms. Nicholas is very involved with her students. Ridhima Rajvanshi, a student in Ms. Nicholas's Digital Arts 4 class, says, “It was the first day of school, and I checked my schedule to find out that I had been switched into Digital Arts 1 for 1st block. I had originally signed up for visual arts since it was a required credit. In no way was I ever creative.

On my first All About Me graphic, Ms. Nicholas had shown my mom the little effort I had put into the sketch. She always saw this creative side in me. Ms. Nicholas has helped me find my passion for digital design/media. Today, I am in Digital Arts 4. I have continued to do this class for the past 4 years not just for the class itself but also because of Ms. Nicholas. She is super involved with her classes and deeply cares for each one of her students.” 

Ridhima Rajvanshi (‘26) works with Ms. Nicholas on a special Nashville-themed mug. 

Photography by Hayden Warren.

Other students also share how much Ms. Nicholas has helped them have creative freedom. She's given them the push they needed to be better. In the end, a good relationship between a teacher and his/her students can make a huge difference in both the student and the teacher.

By: Ridhima Rajvanshi