Even though I've been fortunate to learn from many professors who have had great impacts on me and on my education, there is one who stands out among the group, and this letter is for that educator. I hope that, like me, you get to find that one professor who makes your education exciting, who listens to what you have to say, and who makes you look at new ideas in ways you never could've imagined. So, to the professor who has made my learning experience during my freshman year of college a great one: thank you.
Dear favorite professor,
I never expected to enjoy your class, and I'm sorry for having that mindset going into it. Your course was not required for my major, and I believed that it would not be of great interest to me. However, you proved me wrong, and I am thankful for that.
From day one, I knew your class was going to be challenging. I knew that I would be asking important questions and taking a look at the subject you were teaching in ways I never did during middle or high school.
I'd like to thank you for making me love a subject I never thought I could love. I came into college ready to learn new things, but I was most excited about the classes pertaining to my major, and as a result, I was reluctant to fall in love with the others. You understood that this was a Gen Ed class and that some students would brush it off as irrelevant, but you made it relevant for me and for so many other students. You made us relate the course to our own lives, and this made me understand its importance.
Thank you for taking the time to talk with me outside of class. I know that some professors do not necessarily spend time getting to know their students, but you did, and that has made all the difference. I do not feel like just another face sitting in your classroom; instead, I feel like an actual student who has a voice to be heard.
Most importantly, thank you for pushing me to speak up when I didn't want to be heard. I was a shy student during my first semester, unconfident in what I had to say in front of my peers. I thought my ideas would be laughed at or frowned upon, and so I kept to myself, taking notes and listening to what everyone else had to say. Thank you for making me more confident in my ideas and for reminding me that what I have to say is important -- and for not making me feel embarrassed when I was wrong. It's clear that I have started speaking up more this semester, and it's because of your support. Thank you for making me feel like what I have to say is worth listening to.
Sincerely,
Your student
