On a personal note, there is a teacher I had in grade eight. Her name was Faziah Gamaz, and she was the one who forced me to go into IB. I was really scared of school, but she helped me fill out my application at the last minute. I used to mark tests with her during lunch because I didn't have friends because I was so dorky. She was always there for me.
On a more academic level, there's a professor at my university, UBC, called Professor Jurkevics. She is the most intelligent and most qualified woman I have ever met, and she makes me believe in women so strongly when I am sitting in that lecture. She probably doesn't remember my name, but if you are watching this, Professor Jurkevics, please be my adviser next term if I make it into the honours program.