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John O Connor
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Early in his teaching career, John O'Connor learned a lasting lesson about how North Dakotans were perceived outside the state. |
Lessons Learned
Early in his teaching career, John O'Connor learned a lasting lesson about how North Dakotans were perceived outside the state. It was 1985, and the UND graduate was in his first year of teaching high school science in Watford City. He had been asked to accompany a student to the International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Penn.
"I was walking around, agog at the variety and diversity of the projects that had advanced to the event," he said. "I noticed a group of judges surrounding the project of one of the other North Dakota students, a senior from Wilton. She had an outstanding project resulting in successful field testing of a vaccine that reduced the occurrence of spontaneous abortion in bovines. No one in the world had ever done that before."
The woman who headed the event joined the group of judges to inquire as to the nature of the discussion. She was informed some of the judges doubted whether a high school student could have completed a project of such an advanced nature and sophistication without the help of a professional. This, of course, would disqualify the project.
"The woman asked where the project was from," O'Connor said. "Upon being informed it was North Dakota, she dismissed any concerns with the following: ‘Don't worry about it. They do their own work in North Dakota.' That was the end of the discussion."
The judges awarded the Wilton senior one of the top prizes at the prestigious event.
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"Why do I love North Dakota? Because we do our own work here."
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Living up to their reputation
O'Connor was so impressed by the woman's statement he committed it to memory. During his 28 years of teaching, he says his students have lived up to that respected reputation of "doing their own work."
O'Connor has shared the story with many students throughout the years. "I've told them they will find they are perceived in this fashion by people outside their environment. They may not understand it at first because they take it for granted, but not everybody else has this reputation."
His message to them has been consistent throughout the years: "You're carrying with you a good education, a strong work ethic, honesty and integrity. Other things will get you in the door, but those things will keep you in the room."
North Dakota Pride
O' Connor grew up in Michigan and moved to North Dakota to attend UND, the only medical school in the country offering a general practitioner program at that time. A teaching assignment during his senior year was all he needed to realize teaching was his true calling. In 1981, he earned degrees in natural science and philosophy and eventually earned his master's degree in education from UND as well.
"There was never any question about leaving North Dakota," he said. "My wife, Kay, and I like the lifestyle. Once we were here, we wanted to stay."
O'Connor retired from teaching last year but returned part-time because the school was in need of a physics teacher. The rewards of teaching have been many, but visiting with former students is especially gratifying. "When a student says, ‘I found out I could cut it when a lot of others couldn't, and I did because you taught me,' it's always a huge pick-me-up."
The words of the woman in Pittsburgh were a real eye opener to O'Connor. "I was pleased and proud because I considered myself a North Dakotan, at least sharing in those ethics," he said.
"Why do I love North Dakota? Because we do our own work here."
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