I grew up in a public school system where it wasn't uncommon for teachers to quit mid semester, leaving us stranded with a new substitute everyday. Our learning would suffer and we would have no one to help lead us in the classroom. They would often tell us that the majority of us would never succeed, and it got to the point that we all started to believe it.

This was until I met you, the instrumental teacher who would forever change my life. From the first day I stepped foot in your english class, I knew this year was going to be different, and the difference was you.

As a teacher, you easily exceeded all my expectations, simply by never quitting on us. You did you job well, and we could clearly see that teaching children was your passion. Not only did you teach us, but you went above and beyond to help us out. Whether it be coming in at 7am, to staying late after school to help us better understand our homework or to offer tips, she would always do it for us, no questions asked.

We were a very diverse and cultured group of children but we were all valued equally. I deeply appreciated her ability to have an open mind and accept us for who we all were. Not once were we judged based on our race, sex or religious views. We were encouraged to be ourselves and find our own voice. Most importantly she taught me to believe in myself, even when no one else might. How we view ourselves is the most important thing, we can not let others opinions hold us back in life. It was encouraged for us to have a personal opinion and be able to share it respectfully with our peers. We learned life lessons that will be valued for our entire life. Her classroom was a safe and welcoming environment which made learning easier. She united us all together and we became a family.

My favorite thing was how real and honest you were with us. As your students, not once did you talk down to us as if we mattered less. The knowledge and wisdom shared in class will be remembered years from now more so than any lesson plan. You shared your personal stories from your past and taught us that it is okay to take the less traveled path. There is no set journey that we all must follow.

I learned more about myself and fellow classmates during one year in your classroom. These are the memories and life lessons that I will forever cherish. Thank you for being an exceptional leader and role model for all of your students. I hope to inspire others the way that you have inspired me.