Most people have had a favorite teacher at some point during their lives. My favorite teacher, Mrs. Susan Corley, a history teacher at my old high school, is not only a fantastic teacher, but a fantastic person for whom I will be forever thankful. Although I could go on for hours about all that she’s done for me, I’ve picked some highlights to talk about today.

1. She changed me from a history hater to a history lover.
   The first time I had Mrs. Corley as a teacher was for Western Civilizations Honors during the fall semester of 10th grade. Before I became a student in her classes, I hated history. It was one of my least favorite subjects. I’d always had great history teachers, but I hated learning about history. Mrs. Corley changed my opinion of history and history classes that school year. I went from dreading history class and wishing for the time to fly by so I could stop learning about old dead guys to wishing time would slow down so I could listen to Mrs. Corley talk about those old dead guys some more. The same thing happened 11th-grade year, when I had her for my year-long Advanced Placement US History class. Even though APUSH was quite possibly the most challenging course I took in high school, I found myself looking forward to third period each school day, eager to listen to Mrs. Corley teach about our nation’s history and founding fathers. Thank you, Mrs. Corley, for instilling a love for history, especially U.S. history, in me that didn’t end when I walked out of your room at the end of third period, but has stayed with me, and will stay with me for the rest of my life.
2. She has always believed in me and encouraged me.
   I will never forget what happened in Mrs. Corley’s class on May 7, 2015. It was the day before the national APUSH final exam, and Mrs. Corley spent the entire class period going over information about the exam, as well as answering any last-minute content-related questions her students had. As the class went on, I became more and more nervous about taking the exam. Mrs. Corley was explaining something, but stopped mid-sentence. She looked me dead in the eyes and said to me, “Savannah, I know you’re over here freaking out, but just breathe. You’re going to do fine on the exam.” She’s always encouraged her students, even when we weren’t students in her classes. She believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.
3. She and her husband are everyone at LDHS’ relationship goals.
   Mrs. Corley is married to Mr. Corley, an English teacher at the high school. I can safely speak for my former high school’s student and faculty body when I say that we all hope our spouses love us as much as Mr. and Mrs. Corley love each other. Mr. Corley has told his classes several times that Mrs. Corley is his soulmate, and Mrs. Corley has told her classes the same thing. When they both have the same lunch period, they eat lunch together. They stand together and talk in the hallways. They visit the other’s classroom during the school day. When I find my soulmate, I can only hope that he loves me as much as Mr. Corley loves Mrs. Corley.
4. She is the reason I am majoring in history education.
   Like I said earlier, Mrs. Corley made me love history. She made me love history so much that I am majoring in history with secondary education certification, and I want to teach AP US History after I graduate from college. Mrs. Corley completely changed the course of my life. Before she was my teacher, I wanted to be a graphic designer. After she was my teacher, I wanted to continue learning about old dead guys and girls, and to teach others about history. If I can become even half as good of a teacher as she is, I’ll be an amazing teacher.

I am immensely thankful that I had Mrs. Corley as one of my high school history teachers. I hope that one day I will impact someone as much she impacted me.