To the high school teachers I never thanked,
I will never deny the fact that I was a sarcastic, headstrong, opinionated student during high school. I won’t deny that I am still all of those things. Some days I’m sure I made your job so much more difficult than it needed to be. I hated rules, I hated homework, and I even hated you sometimes. I relied so heavily on myself that I made it difficult for you to help me in any way. Despite all of these things, you made the effort to connect with me and become a part of my life. Once I let you in and let you become someone I trusted, I realized how much I desperately needed you in my life.
I grew up with an absentee older brother, who I only saw maybe twice a year, and I became very bitter about that fact. All I wanted was someone to protect me from the world like older brothers do. I wanted to feel like I was worth his time and attention. I never felt that from him. Thank God I had you in my life to step in. You became my older brother. When things were going wrong I went to you for advice and support. When I did well at something I loved to hear you congratulate me. You made me feel like I was worth something again. You made me feel like I deserved to be loved. You probably never knew that.
Teachers seem to be forgotten so often. High school graduates look back on their high school memories and think primarily about their friends and sports teams. Teachers are just another fixture at the school that they forget about. Much like the computers and books, they are tools of information that get left behind when we move on. Personally, I think it’s a shame. In my mind, you’re a hero that goes unappreciated. You have so much influence on young people and can mold them into someone amazing. I've seen you take students who have never studied a day in their life and show them how to apply themselves. I've seen the class nerd become someone who branches out and learns about herself. You develop a person educationally and personally. They become more well-rounded. You helped develop my talents and encouraged me to pursue my dreams. You showed me that it's alright to be uncertain about what you want for your future because that's all a part of growing up. You helped draw me out of my comfort zone and become someone who tried new things. You changed my life.
I will never forget you- any of you. Every single teacher I had played a part in my life whether they knew it or not. Some were like an older brother who I told my days to in times when I needed comfort and protection. Others were like a father or grandfather who gave wise advice when I was feeling particularly stupid. Better yet, almost all of you were friends. You didn’t lord your authority over me, but instead took the time to develop a relationship with me. You showed me what a Godly person looks like and gave me a model of the type of person I should grow up to be. I will forever be grateful for the way you willingly dealt with my attitude and looked past it to find a young girl in need of a friend. I will forever be grateful that you didn’t view your job as a paycheck, but instead as a chance to make a difference. You may not know it, but you are one of my favorite memories about high school. Remember that you are appreciated and loved. You made the difference in my life and in countless others. You saved me.
Forever in your debt,
An always-grateful student.
