Passion

I would imagine that most people in the United States generally like what they do. Of course it's not going to be great all the time, but for the most part, they like it. Sometimes, people have the opportunity to truly love their work. When these people with such great passion for their field teach, it's magical.
I just had my last Anatomy lecture. My professor this semester, Rachel Tomco, has been one of the best teachers I've had in my entire life. What makes her a great teacher isn't really her knowledge of human anatomy, or her friendliness, or the clarity of her teaching. These things certainly contribute, but there are a lot of professors at BYU that have all those traits as well. What she has brought to the class is her passion, her love, and her testimony of the divide creation of the human body. When she starts to talk about the first time she felt a lung, or just how incredible the hand is, it's infectious.
With a class that takes as much of a commitment as anatomy (4 hours of lecture and lab + open lab and study time every week), you come to either love it or hate it. Most people I've talked to tend to lean towards loving it - and I don't see how it could be any other way. With Rachel's contagious affection and the sheer beauty we saw in the cadaver lab, how can anyone resist the pull?
I believe that any class can have this effect on a [receptive] student, regardless of the subject matter, if the teacher is passionate enough. The teacher wants to share what she knows with her students because she wants to share with as many people as possible that which brings so much joy into her life. As a student, it's difficult not to get caught up in her passion, and so easy to share in it. I know when I've felt that passionate about something, it's pure joy to talk about and share. I wish all my teachers had had that same passion when I was growing up, and some of them did, but I think the added element of spirituality and testimony changes things and brings them to a higher level; It brings that passion to maturity and allows it to bloom freely. It lends it a foundation to grow and fall back on.
The combination of teaching both the spiritual and secular sides of everything is what I love most at BYU. If only every school, and aspect of life, could be this way.

"BYU seeks to develop students of faith, intellect, and character who have the skills and the desire to continue learning and to serve others throughout their lives."