Dear Future Students,

I have no idea where you are in the world, or if you've even been born. What I do know is that someday you'll be sitting in my classroom. By the time you get there, maybe you'll love school, or maybe you'll hate it. Regardless of what your feelings towards school are when you enter my class, I hope you're ready to work with me and your fellow students to learn and stretch your mind.

Despite what you may believe, I promise I'm not here to make your life miserable. Unless learning makes you miserable, but I believe the concept of learning as a whole is something that most everyone enjoys. I'm here to teach you. Yes, that will mean we will be working in class. And yes, you will have homework and tests. None of those things, however, are designed to be torturous affairs. Please never hesitate to ask a question (I love questions) and I will do my best to present material in a way that is understandable and interesting to you.

I won't lie -- as your teacher, I am going to challenge you. In order to learn, one must grow, and with growth comes challenges. I don't think you want to sit in a classroom for an entire school year and not learn anything. That would be a colossal waste of time. So why would I have you do things that you already know how to do? The definition of "challenge" includes difficulty in a job that is stimulating to one engaged in it. I'm sure you've all faced challenges before coming into this class. Maybe they're related to school, sports, family life, personal life, or anything else. Although I'm sure they have ranged in difficulty, you've always overcome them and so you will for any problems you may face here.

Another thing I would like you to know is that I, like you, was -- and am -- a student. I went through grade school and once sat in desks while a teacher stood at the front. I know how it feels to have no idea what the teacher is talking about, and how embarrassing it can be to answer a question incorrectly. I know what it's like to receive a grade you're not overly proud of, and I know what it's like to feel like the teacher has no confidence in you. On the other hand, I also know what it feels like to fully understand what the teacher is saying. I know how it feels to get a test or paper back and see a grade to be proud of. Most importantly, I know how it feels to have a teacher who truly wants to see you succeed. For the record, I have yet to meet any of you but I want to see you succeed more than anything, and I know all of you can.

As for me still being a student, it is true that I am not a student in the conventional sense that I sit in a classroom. No, I am a student because I have more to learn every day. While I am teaching you the curriculum of this class, I will be learning new and more effective methods of instruction and developing as a leader. I will also be learning from you. No two people are exactly the same; you will broaden my horizons with your experiences, questions, and comments. All of which will help me figure out those new methods I mentioned just moments ago. So, you see, we will all learn from each other, in more ways than one.

Some or all of you may be wondering why I decided to become a teacher. Let me answer that question. I had some fairly bad teachers growing up (who hasn't). I do not want you sitting in a room with teachers who are just there to speak in a monotone voice and take no interest in you whatsoever. You deserve so much more than that. The bigger reason I chose to study education, however, is due to the truly exceptional teachers that I had. These were the teachers who always made themselves available, never ceased to push me, made their classes active and engaging, and showed each student how much he or she was capable of. That is the teacher I aspire to be for you. I remember the moments in school where a lightbulb would go off in my mind, or I could feel the wheels of my brain spinning as they went along with the work I was doing. I want to see your lightbulbs go off. I want the wheels in your brain to turn as you find something you're passionate about. I want to see the look of understanding in your eyes when you master something new.

So wherever you are, I want you to know that, even if you have a teacher who doesn't care somewhere along the line, you'll have at least one who will do everything possible to see you succeed. Like I said in the beginning, I'm here to teach you, but each and every one of you will impact me in ways that I can't yet imagine. Again, I hope you're ready to learn and I can't wait to meet you.

Sincerely,

Your Future Teacher