Dear "Mama,"

Where do I begin?

Before stepping into that Latin I classroom, I always heard stories from my friends and former students about how they had teachers they felt like they were best friends with, and couldn't bear to part with. I never really connected with any of my teachers in high school, and then two years ago, you came into our lives and changed them forever.

You went from being the newest teacher in our school to someone we've felt like has been here forever. You've made me laugh, cry, and pushed me to be the best Latin student, (and student in general), that I could be. You gave me courage when I didn't have it, you were a friend when I felt alone, and you provided all of us with a space to go when nowhere else felt safe.

You opened up your heart and your classroom to your other students and I and provided us with an inviting, enriching environment like nothing else. Even on the days when we weren't your favorite, and we pushed you to your limits, you still loved us as if we were angels.

I'll never be able to repay you for all the advice you've given me, all of the precious memories of school trips, inside jokes in the classroom, and part you played in growing me up from the fifteen year old I was when I met you, to the eighteen-year-old (sort of) adult that I'll walk across that stage being.

I know that I speak for all of your students when I say there's one thing we need to say to you that I know we don't say often enough:

Thank you.

Thank you for all of the time and effort you've given to us inside and outside of the classroom. Thanks for putting up with our endless high school drama, and changing our minds back and forth about who we wanted to be, who we wanted to love, and what we believed in. Only someone with an incredibly open and loving heart could find it in themselves to love hundreds of teenagers.

I hope that in all the students that come after us, you will be able to give them the same compassion, patience, and guidance that you gave me.

I hope that you don't forget us, but you instead carry the memories we all have together close to your heart.
Most of all, I hope that you understand how much you mean to us, and how much we appreciate everything you've done, and everything you've contributed to the people we are today.

I will miss you more than you'll know.

All my love,

Emma