I earned the nickname of “Spock” in high school. It was partly do to the fact that I was a proud Trekkie and partly because I would answer almost every question a teacher asked of the class. I took the nickname and ran with it. I know that some people used it to try and tease me but I took it as a compliment. Spock was an intelligent member of the crew who always had something worthwhile to contribute. I felt the same way. Of course, like Spock, I often felt like an outsider as well.

I remember one specific assignment for my Grade 10 English class. My teacher had assigned a presentation project on MacBeth. I’d enjoyed the play but I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do for the assignment. I brainstormed ideas but didn’t come up with anything solid on that first day. The next day, he placed videotapes of The Star Wars Trilogy on my desk. He said, very succinctly, “Star Wars is based on MacBeth.”

I couldn’t believe that an English teacher would let me use my love of science fiction in an English class. I was motivated and energized at the prospect of going home and watching the series of films again with a different focus this time. I quickly began to see things in it that I had never seen before. I finally understand parts of it that hadn’t made much sense prior to reading and studying this play. My teacher opened up my eyes to the value of Shakespeare and gave me a new appreciation of science fiction as well.

I try to do for my students what this teacher did for me. He saw me and let me work on a passion that I was familiar and comfortable with. I know that there are many teachers who would argue that you shouldn’t encourage a student to go with the one thing they love the best. But maybe he saw something in me that I didn’t even see.

I have always had obsessions and can be hyper-focused on things that I enjoy. With my recent Autism diagnosis, this now make much more sense. I always thought I was weird. I felt like Spock on a ship of people who didn’t quite know what it meant to be an alien. I tried to fit in, but stood out now matter what I did. Fortunately, I had good teachers, role models, and people who believed in me.

No one remembers this nickname. And I haven’t been called it since those days I served on the starship known as high school. But this is a memory that I cherish.