To my teacher, friend, advocate and mentor,
I excitedly walked into your Biology class on the first day of school. Having such an interest in medicine, I knew I was going to like Bio, but did not know what else the year would bring. The entire class sat quietly in neat rows while we waited for the opening day activities to begin. We went over the syllabus and units for the year. Little did I know, Biology would be a life changing class for me; not in the aspect of the curriculum, but the impact you as a teacher would have on me.
During the latter part of the year, I remember coming in for extra help more often. I would come to either your office or homeroom, in which we would go over the material that I was struggling with. Throughout the time, as we became more comfortable with each other, “small-talk” type conversations would occur. Simple questions and ideas were exchanged at the end of the period. I never thought much of it. We would talk for a few minutes and then I would go about my day, thinking nothing of it.
Then, one day, everything did a complete 180.
I will always remember the conversation that we were having when all of a sudden, I divulged something that I typically would not talk to teachers about. Instead of judging, you sat and listened to me while sharing your own life advice. From that day on, for the remaining few months of school, I merely did not come to your homeroom for extra help, but to talk and exchange life stories, experiences, and advice. You suddenly became someone I looked up to and a role-model to me.
This year, even though you were not my teacher, you still remained a prominent figure in my life. I look forward to having lunch together and sharing any news or gossip going on in my life with you. You added so much insight to even the negligent things in my life. Adding to the standing stress of junior year, I had my own personal stressors. Talking to you always helped to brighten my day and make going to school more of a fun experience instead of a dreaded chore.
The time we spent together talking about random things in our lives is very valuable to me, and I hope it is to you. You have changed my life, mindset and the way I look at things. It would be an understatement to say that you have changed my life forever.
I have never really understood when people say that things or people have changed their lives. However, I now know that when a person comes into your life and changes it, that it truly is life-changing. Being a rising senior, I can only hope for more times together that we have had the past two years. I look forward to sharing my summer and senior year experiences with you and I truly hope you will remain a prominent figure throughout my entire life.
So, thank you for being my teacher, friend, advocate, mentor and every other type of person that you were to me. There will never be any words to truly show how grateful I am.
Sincerely,
Your former student and friend
