Dear Mrs. Helling,
Do you remember me? In 1998 I was a student in your second grade class. I couldn't wait to be in second grade because I wanted to have the teacher my older sister had, but I didn't get that teacher. You were hired to be a second-grade teacher that year and I ended up in your class. It was not an accident that you joined the second-grade team at Key Elementary for my second year at the school. My heart was disappointed at first because I didn't get the teacher I wanted, but my disappointment wasn't permanent because you turned out to be the best teacher I ever had in my seven years of life. I only knew you for six months, but in those short months, I spent most of my time in your classroom. You made school feel like home just by your presence. I didn't realize the impact you had until much later in life and I wish I could visit you today to tell you just how much I loved being your student.
You changed the way I thought about myself and school. You made math fun. You encouraged me to love reading even if I wasn't the best or fastest reader. You believed in my ability to learn and to succeed. You gave me the freedom to try, and you did not criticize me when I failed or messed up. You made our classroom feel like home. You let our home-room class take off our shoes during free time. You made the classroom feel like a home away from home. I loved going to school because you made learning fun, and I didn't have to be afraid to be away from my mom. You cared about every single student in our class and you loved us with all your heart. When I went home I would play school teacher because of you. I wish I had the chance to tell you that.
The thing that hurts the most is that I can't tell you these things face-to-face. I can't visit you in the classroom, at your home, or even find you on Facebook to say "Thank you." Your life was taken from you sooner than expected. I only knew you for six months, but my heart still hurts when I think about you. I didn't understand what happened when I was seven years old. I didn't understand why you left. I didn't understand why everyone was crying. I didn't understand why you were sleeping in the church. I didn't understand why you wouldn't wake up.
I liked the teachers that took your place, and they loved me just as you did, but the classroom didn't feel the same without you there. I wish you could have seen me grow up. I wish you could have seen me as a senior in high school. I wish I could have gone back to you as a teenager and now as a young adult. I wish I could have asked you questions about growing up. I wish you could see me now and the woman that God is creating me to be and how far I've come. I wish I could tell you the impact you had.
I experienced a lot of firsts in your classroom in those short months. The first time I loved math class.The first time I loved reading chapter books. The first time I loved going to school every day. The first time I wrote my own book for Young Author's Day. The first time I felt like I mattered by my teacher. And the first time I experienced death.
My only hope is that I know I will get to see you again one day because you knew and loved Jesus. I know because of the way you treated me and my classmates. God gave me you as my second-grade public school teacher to build upon my foundation of who He is. You encouraged my ability to learn. I can't thank you enough for the influence you had in my life. Thank you for teaching me. Thank you for loving me. I will remember you always. You are why I want to teach second grade one day. The way you loved your students was only because of your love for Jesus. You loved us all and empowered us to keep learning.
On behalf of my former classmates, thank you for giving your life to change our lives. I pray I can be the loving and empowering teacher to my future students as you were to me.
Love,
A former student
The King will reply, "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it for Me." (Matthew 25:40)
