Elizaveta Friesem - Teachers Make a Difference - Nickolay Mirniy

The speaker reflects on the significant influence of their grandfather, an engineer, who instilled curiosity and a love for exploration through nature activities. Growing up in Russia, the speaker learned to be investigative and rigorous. The grandfather's non-traditional approach to gender roles allowed the speaker to challenge cultural expectations, fostering critical thinking and personal growth.

Who was the most influential person in the narrator's life?

• A school teacher

• Their grandfather

• Their best friend

• A famous scientist

What activity did the narrator and their grandfather enjoy that is considered a Russian national sport?

• Picking berries and mushrooms

• Fishing

• Hiking

• Bird watching

What quality did the narrator's grandfather emphasize that helped them in life?

• Being artistic

• Being competitive

• Being rigorous

• Being humorous

How did the narrator's grandfather influence their perspective on gender roles?

• By teaching them traditional gender roles

• By encouraging them to wear special clothes

• By discouraging outdoor activities

• By allowing them to explore freely without gender constraints

What realization did the narrator have when studying gender later in life?

• That cultural expectations are always correct

• That their experiences helped them critically assess cultural expectations

• That gender roles are unimportant

• That their grandfather's teachings were irrelevant