To the school supplies it may concern,

First, let me start with an apology. I’m sure that so many of you were excited to be picked up off of the shelf and to be set free from your packages. I’m sure all of you pencils sharpeners and erasers were dying to be used. I was excited too. I got caught up in the excitement of brand new supplies. I went supply crazy. I wasn’t thinking. I am sorry to say, but I may not actually need you. Maybe one day I will use a pencil instead of a pen and the eraser will have fallen off and the tip had been broken, and then you guys will finally have your day… but that is not the life you deserve. I am sorry that I couldn’t give you more of an exciting life off of the shelf. I am sorry that you may not get to experience college with me. Please, don’t let it hold you back. If you get lost somewhere along the way in the drawers of abandoned supplies, don’t lose hope. Someday, somebody will need you. You were still worth every penny. To the protractor I bought on an impulse…I hate to break it to you, but you are useless to me. I will never have a class that I will come calling for you. So don’t wait for me, move on, I don’t want to lead you on more than I already have. Please, don’t be jealous of the pens that I may be using or the highlighters that get to light up my life. Jealousy will not bring you closer to me, and it will only let you down. Just know that you don’t need to be used to be happy. I’m sorry again.

Secondly, I would like to say thank you to the supplies who will try their hardest. I’m looking at you multicolored pens and three ring binders. Please understand that I had good intentions for you. I meant to treat you well. I meant to never lose you or fill you with clutter. Colored pens, life gets messy, and so do my notes. I really did mean to continue to color coordinate in every subject, but it gets so tiring. It’s not you, it’s me. You will not be completely forgotten. You still bring me so much joy when I pull you out of the darkness of my pencil pouch. Never forget that. And to the binders, I am sorry for the mess. I’m sorry for shoving too much paper in your pockets. That’s not what you are for. You are meant to be treated with care. Thank you for never letting go no matter how full you get. You don’t know how much I appreciate it. I will try my absolute best to keep you clean. Please, don’t lose hope for me. And finally, to the two pocket folders that didn’t make it through the year, you are still appreciated. I’m sorry if I beat you up too much, it was never my intention. You tried your hardest. Sometimes supplies are weak. It doesn’t matter that you broke down; please don’t be offended when I replace you, I know that you held on the best that you could. All of you will see better days, I can promise you that. You will never be forgotten forever.

Lastly, I would like to say I love you to the supplies that have never left my side. All of you smith gliding pens, you truly are the real MVP. From English to science, to math and back, you have never let me down. I am never going to give you up. I didn’t know that true love existed, but with you, it was love at first letter stroke. The way that you glide across the pages and manage not to smear is addicting. I don’t know what I would do if your production came to an end. Your ink may run dry, but your offspring will forever be kept on my supply list. I hope you know how truly special you are. And to college ruled notebooks, thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow…lines. Your perforated edges keep me clean throughout the year, and I will never be able to repay you. Highlighters, you really do make my world a brighter place. Your various colors really help the text in my notebook show their own true colors. You, my friends, are so valuable to my education and I thank you.

And to the ones I forgot to mention, you know which category you may fall into, whether you deserve an apology, a thank you, or an I love you, you will make a student happy one day. You are worth opening up. You are worth being used. Never forget that. Thank you for your service, big or small.

Love always,

Michele