I've met a lot of teachers in my life; most of them wanted to help in some way, some of them were indifferent, and some of them were on another scale altogether. I never appreciated them as much as I should have, looking back. The life of an educator is rough; long hours and not enough recognition for what they try to do for their students.

But I had never had a teacher so willing to not only drill their class materials into my head as they were to offer guidance that would aid me both in college and after, at least not until I started my second year of college.

I am hesitant to imagine where I would be right now had I not met this professor; if I would have let the world wear away at me and leave me jaded. If I would have left myself blind to anything outside of my bubble, my cookie-cutter world that had been build around and I had accepted so readily.

I'd never had a teacher push me as much as they had, or made me question as much as they had. They didn't accept shallow answers, they refused to let me shrug off my thoughts. They forced me to view myself, truly, and look at myself more closely than I had ever dared because I had been too scared of what I might have seen. They taught me to stop running away.

They taught me self-preservation, the balance of kindness and the sense of self; how to give back to the world without allowing it to trample me down and pull me under. I'd struggled with this for so long. Hearing someone tell me that I can help others without allowing the selfish ones to ruin me was life changing.

They gave me so much of their time. They've held me while I cried and taught me how to treat myself and others. They've changed my world view and made me realize that I am worth more than I ever imagined despite the distances I still need to cover; my flaws do not define me, but rather my plans.

I feel so lucky to have met this person. It was simply good time (and a fair share of luck) that allowed me the opportunity to spend so many countless hours in their presence. They've given me a renewed view of the world, a new drive with which to approach the world, a new type of hope and determination I'd never experienced.

Thank you, professor, for the time you've put into your craft. For leveling with me at my most irrational and holding me together at my absolute worst. Words are important but I feel that I will never be able to give mine the life they need to explain how important you are to me. Thank you for disrupting my world and forcing me to persevere no matter the circumstance. You've changed me for the better and I will be forever grateful.