To my High School teacher who cared,
It's been about 4 years since I graduated. And although graduation is a blur, I can remember you being at graduation and hugging you one last time as a student there. Being in college the last four years has been a totally new and exciting experience for me. I didn't truly know who I was in high school or where I was headed in life. One thing is for sure though, the impact you made on my life is something I will always be grateful for.
Freshman year, I walked into your class with not the slightest bit of knowledge of what I had in store for me. It only took me about 2 minutes to figure out how hard I was going to have to work in your class. It was eye-opening. I can pretty much say that we had a love hate relationship during my freshman year. Mostly it was me who had the variance of emotions about you and your class. I will never forget walking into your class, hearing Taylor Swift's "Love Story" after reading Romeo and Juliet. I also met some of my very best friends in your class. Even though I always managed to get in trouble for talking. That seems like ages ago.
Fast forward to sophomore year, I was assigned a new English teacher. I had grown to love you during my freshman year and I couldn't believe I wouldn't be able to be in your class. Luck was on my side when the school switched teachers, and I was put into your class. Out of all of the papers I wrote for you, and all the time I spent either in your class, or at home doing homework, I remember you drilling MLA in-text citation formats into our heads.
I never struggled like my peers when I got to college, so thank you so very much. Somewhere in between freshman, sophomore, or junior year (when I had you also) I learned to love writing. I can't say that I loved writing the papers you assigned but it developed my talent. I would love to think that fate had a part in making you my teacher for three years. Whatever it was, I could never express how very lucky I am to have had such a dedicated and tough teacher. Not only did you make me a better student, but you made me a better person. You are one of the most dedicated teachers I have ever seen, and quite frankly you put most of my college professors to shame. My life is a little brighter and I am a whole lot wiser thanks to everything that you did for me during high school.
I can honestly say that those high school years would have been a little less stressful and far less rewarding without you. Thank you for pushing me to my breaking point, for it taught me to be strong and work harder. Thank you for listening to me when I just needed someone to vent to. You will always be one of the most important people in my life. I am lucky enough to have had the experience that I did and the opportunity to be taught by one of the most selfless and amazing people. I hope that your current students appreciate all that they have right now. If not, your can always direct them to me. You make that department what it is and I'm grateful for the short time I got to learn under you. I hope that I have made you proud. I hope that I have grown into the adult that you envisioned for me eight years ago. Most importantly, I hope that you don't find too many grammatical mistakes in this letter. They say that teaching is a super power, and they must have thought of you when coining that.
Miss You Often,
Your Most Grateful Student
