For any education majors out there, take note of how you can truly help students besides just teaching them mathematical skills, or how correct English. Any kind of teacher has the ability to have a large impact on a student's life in so many ways. We've all had the teacher or professor that was so unhelpful and gave unclear instructions, and yes-- it's so frustrating! But I hope that many of you have also had the wonderful experience of a phenomenal teacher or professor who makes themselves available and approachable for questions!

Dear Educators,

Thank you, professors, for office hours. As often as you may feel we take these for granted -- and some of us do -- those of us with questions, or who need the extra help really appreciate you making yourself available to us. Just know that your helpful intentions make a difference in our learning. Thank you for being approachable and giving us a sense of comfortability to ask questions without fear of "being wrong." Thank you, teachers, who allow students to come into your classroom when they need somewhere to be, somewhere to eat lunch, and somewhere they feel loved and accepted. Thank you for classrooms that emit a safe atmosphere for every student.

Thank you, online professors, for quick responses and conference calls. I know it can be hard to communicate but online students so appreciate your clear and concise directions and they help us succeed to the best of our ability. Thank you, online teachers, for doing conference calls to answer calls with more personality than an email could give. Thank you for teaching us how to connect with people in a professional manner online and helping us even though you can't be there in person.

Thank you, teachers, for caring about students. Thank you for allowing your students to be more than a grade or another name on your attendance sheet. Getting to know us and learning how to better serve us as an educator has so much more meaning than you could ever see through our test scores. Educators, you build our confidence not just in our school subjects, but our confidence in who we are and our educational worth. Thank you for being encouraging when we are struggling rather than using negative comments that will stick with us for life.

Thank you to the teachers who weren't my favorite. You helped me learn patience; you helped me work hard to prove myself. As much as I never thought I'd be saying thank you, I learned what kind of teacher I want to be and how I want to encourage children one day. Thank you for teaching me when to bite my tongue and when to speak up. I learned valuable life lessons from you and learned that we don't always emit the kindness of how we want to be treated but, you taught me to continually treat people with kindness.

As a future educator myself, I hope to one day impact kids positively as teachers have done in my life. Thank you to teachers who have encouraged me, helped me thrive and devoted time to helping me become a better student, and an overall better person.