Yes, I was actually an acting teacher for a while.

Hear, O seekers of wisdom, the humble yet powerful words of Alanna Ubach: “Yes, I was actually an acting teacher for a while.” In this short confession lies a truth far greater than the words themselves. To be a teacher, even for a season, is to step into the timeless chain of guidance and inheritance, where knowledge is not hoarded but passed down like a flame. Ubach’s admission reminds us that behind every artist, there is also a mentor, and behind every mentor, there is the memory of having once been taught.

For the art of acting is not merely the play of words and gestures, but the embodiment of human truth. The acting teacher does more than teach craft; they awaken empathy, courage, and the ability to walk in another’s soul. In guiding others upon the stage, Ubach was part of that sacred labor where the heart of one becomes a mirror for many. To say, “I taught” is to say, “I helped others find their voices, their strength, their selves.”

The ancients too honored such roles. In Greece, where theater was born, the actors were not simply entertainers, but bearers of myth and moral truth. Behind them stood teachers, drilling voices, movements, and hearts, so that tragedy and comedy might reveal divine wisdom. Just as Aristotle shaped Alexander, so too must every performer be shaped by a guide. To admit to being such a guide, even for a while, is to confess participation in the great lineage of those who craft not only performers, but souls.

Consider the story of Stella Adler, one of the greatest acting teachers of the modern age. She herself was an actress of skill, yet her most enduring legacy was not her own performances, but the countless actors she formed—Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, and many more. Through her teaching, she instilled depth, discipline, and truth that stretched across generations. In the same way, Alanna Ubach’s time as a teacher, though perhaps brief, was part of this eternal work: shaping others to carry forward the torch of art.

The lesson here is this: greatness is not only in what you achieve, but in what you pass on. One who teaches, even if only “for a while,” leaves ripples that stretch into the lives of others. The student who learns courage on the stage may one day speak boldly in the world. The one who learns to step into another’s shoes may one day heal divisions between peoples. In this way, the acting teacher is also a teacher of life.

Practical wisdom follows: do not underestimate your moments as a guide. Even a short season of teaching, mentoring, or helping can leave lasting impact. When given the chance, share your craft, your knowledge, your strength. If you are a learner, honor your teachers, for they are bridges between what you are and what you may become. And if you are a teacher, however briefly, remember that your words and presence may live long in the hearts of your students.

Thus, O children of tomorrow, take to heart Alanna Ubach’s quiet words. To be a teacher, even for a while, is to step into eternity. For teaching is not measured in hours, but in the lives touched, in the voices awakened, in the truths revealed. Carry this forward: when you can, teach; when you cannot, remember those who taught you. In this way, wisdom flows unbroken, from age to age, like fire passed from torch to torch.