Dear _____,

This semester has not been an easy one. In fact, it has been the exact opposite-- a nightmare. From the large load of extra curriculars that fill my plate to the other impossible classes that I’m struggling to stay afloat in, I’m more than ready for this semester to end and spend a well-deserved break with my family.

However, I wanted to reflect on this past semester, and I realized that I’ve been stuck with a lot of professors that have either angered me beyond belief or have stressed me out to the point I was ripping out my hair. And while I’m reflecting on those, I’m also reflecting on the professors that were the exact opposite. And you just so happen to be one of those. And I have to give you so much thanks for that.

Thank you for caring about my education.

There are countless professors that just come into class and lecture to get the job done and then leave. They drone on, don’t let students ask questions, don’t engage with the students and don’t provide or offer any help to students that may be struggling in the class for whatever reason. Thank you for being different. Thank you for showing an interest in our lives. Thank you for caring about issues that go on outside of the classroom. Thank you for caring about what we have to say; for making us feel like you want to be there and help us learn.

Thank you for helping my grades.

So many professors don’t give any feedback on assignments. We as students never learn what we did wrong on those assignments. Some may ask us to visit them in their office, but most don’t even encourage it. Thank you for writing feedback on every single assignment. Thank you for taking the time to go over the assignment. Thank you for working with me to build on my grade for that class. Thank you for building a bridge to help me succeed.

Thank you for having passion.

When I’m in your class, I can see these teachings mean the world to you. You are so passionate about your profession that it makes me want to do the same when I get in my field. Thank you for having said passion. Thank you for making this class a class that I look forward to coming to. Thank you for putting that in your lecture, your assignments, your stories that you tell.

But most importantly, thank you for the little things. Thank you for emailing me links to articles I would find interesting. Thank you for helping me to change my view on other things. Thank you for teaching me to empathize with others. Thank you for making me laugh. For being real. For showing us that we still matter as human beings instead of students.

Thank you for adding a little bit of light to my semester.

Sincerely,