“You will pass a test that will make you happier.” “Your dearest wish will come true.” A 24-year-old Robert Borenstein looks at these two seemingly random Chinese fortunes with rising hope. “Could it be? Does it mean that I might actually pass my teacher certification test?”

Borenstein had the revelation and enrolled in UNT’s post-baccalaureate education program after transferring from Long Island University.

He turned out to be a natural, receiving the Student Teacher of the Year award. He found a job at a school in LISD where he taught world geography to freshmen – a job that gave such a positive feeling that he can’t fully describe it, even to this day.

“[Even now, I have students] from my first year of teaching that I keep in contact with,” Borenstein said.

Sadly, this bright future quickly darkened when the school informed Borenstein that due to the probationary status of his certificate, his contract there would not be renewed. Borenstein returned to school and continued to take education classes, despite his counselors and parents advising him to try a different career path.

There was one person who believed in Borenstein, his supervising education professor, Dr. Alexandra Leavell. She told him to not give up on his dream and to continue to work on passing the certification test.

When the end of the semester came, the class met in a Chinese restaurant to present their semester projects. This was where Borenstein picked the fortune cookie that had renewed his hope that he would find himself at the head of a classroom. As fate would have it, Borenstein passed his certification exam the next time he took it and within a week of passing, he found himself at Lewisville teaching U.S. history, a position he’s held for over a decade, culminating in being named the 2014-15 Teacher of the Year.

“[Teaching] made me realize that I have a purpose,” Borenstein said. “Not that I didn’t before. To have a kid, or even an adult, come and tell you you changed their life, that’s the greatest feeling in the world.”

He is beloved by his pupils as seen by the many students who keep in touch with him. In fact, one of his former students had him as her inspiration in the acknowledgments of her published thesis.

“That’s freaking awesome,” Borenstein said. “Like that is freaking awesome.”

Borenstein says that he’s had too many memorable students to pick just one.

“I have students who are teachers,” Borenstein said. “I have students who are doctors. I have students who are saving other people’s lives, students who are firefighters, you know so it’s like you can’t really pick one.”

Those students who have taken Borenstein’s class will support the teaching philosophy of “It’s one thing to learn [history] from a book, but hearing a story from a first-hand account really puts life into perspective.”

Junior Josh Adebayo says Borenstein’s leading characteristic is the way he treats his kids.

“He doesn’t treat us like students,” Adebayo said. “He treats us like people.”

Even former students such as senior Josef Winkler have fond memories about Borenstein and his class.

“He really challenges the students to make sure they’re always giving their best and they’re using their time wisely,” Winkler said. “He’ll take nothing but your best and he tries to bring that out in everyone. He basically taught me how to study; [he] prepared me for college.”

Lincoln didn’t win his first few elections. It took Eisenhower three tries to secure overall command in World War ll. The 2014-15 Teacher of the Year was denied his dream of becoming a teacher multiple times. None of them gave up. The trend almost seems historical.