For the one who changed everything,

The words 'thank you' don't even begin to cover how thankful I am for you. Who would have thought that little freshman Leah would one day be an editor for her high school yearbook?! If you would have asked me at 15, my response would have been, "not a chance in this lifetime." I didn't believe in myself then, but for some reason, you did.

You saw something in me that I never knew was there. You encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, and look at where it has gotten me today. Without the push that you gave me, I wouldn't a content editor let alone content contributor to one of the most well known writing outlets to college students. I wouldn't have my nice camera and be going on adventures to get cool pictures of the scenery or my friends. Most of all, without you, I wouldn't have had some of the best experiences in my life (and I am not just talking about our trip to Europe).

Sometimes as a teacher and coach you wouldn't get recognized like you deserved to, and I know we hardly ever acknowledged it as students either. You took your own time to sit and talk with people... and make fun of them, but you made it a point to know us all not as students, but as people. We could joke around with you, cry, or just talk. Your door was always open, well kind of, but the whole world doesn't need to know why.

You were the one person who made me believe that not all teachers were out to get you. You were the person who made me realize that just because you only have an hour and a half (really like three hours because we were so lucky) together, didn't mean that you couldn't get to know a person. You taught me to have a work ethic and to go after what I wanted. You taught me how to stick to a timeline, and if I got behind how it would bite me in the ass later (shout out to Tara for being a little forgiving).

Now, I could sit here and say thank you for everything that you did for me over the four years that we had together, but that would take me a little to long and I am pretty sure it would bring to many tears. I wish there was a way that I could show you how much those years meant to me. From freshman year when I sat in the back of the classroom to being an editor of the yearbook and not having any fear when walking in to talk to my principal about things say something about you, not just me (even though I may take the credit from time to time).

Dan, you were the teacher to have and I am glad that I got four years with you. I am glad that you got to move on, but I am sorry that the students at Peachtree Ridge won't know who you are or get the chance to learn from you.

With much love and gratitude,

The girl from the back of the classroom