Dear Educator,
I see you.
I see the frustrations you endure in your quest to bring knowledge to the youth of today. Students are often disrespectful. Worksheets you spent hours making to help prepare your students go unfinished and unappreciated. Legislation changes, forcing your focus to shift from teaching your passion to teaching to standardized tests. Judgement is thrown from all sides. They accuse you of working too hard, taking everything far too seriously and spending too much time away from friends and family to focus on work, while at the same time accusing you of not working hard enough, constantly getting days off for hazardous weather and getting the entire summer off. What people don't see is that an educator's work is never done. Not during the summer, not on unexpected days off, and especially not when the final bell rings. A good educator never stops thinking of ways to help their students be the best that they can be.
You know what else I see? I see how discouraging all of this pressure can be. I see how the disrespect and the judgement can take the twinkle out of teacher's eyes in a matter of a semester or two. I've watched some of most talented educators I've ever had the privilege of having be made to feel as though all of their efforts are pointless. It is truly heartbreaking when someone who dedicates their life to helping others is made to feel as though they are wasting their time, as though they are making no contribution. This is why I am writing this letter. To the educator who feels that they aren't making a difference, here is something I want you to remember:
I see you.
I see you in the letters of my high school diploma. I see you in the bright faces of prospective students each tour day. I see you in every scientific breakthrough and viral article that changes the way that we think about the world. Aside from academics, I see you in the everyday activities that you've helped me to understand. I could see my government teacher plain as day when I filled out my first absentee ballot. I can see my literature teacher in the symbolic elements of each movie that I watch. I see my choir director every time I sing along to the radio, and my theater director each time I go to work at the performing arts center. I see my math teacher every time I feverishly calculate my grades, and I see my writing teacher jumping across the screen while I type this letter. Education shapes a person for the rest of their lives, and even those who choose not to go to college feel the influence of their past educators every single day. To the educator who feels that they aren't making a difference, know that the lives of your students are possible because of your efforts. Your teachings will remain with your students for the rest of their lives, helping them to always be the best that they can be. You give the gift that keeps on giving. Whenever you get discouraged, just know that every time one of your students (past or present) takes on life,
We see you.
Sincerely yours,
Thankful Student
