To the best teachers I have ever had,

First off, thank you. I know I tell you all the time, but it isn't enough.

In a world of low self esteem and stress and self doubt, you were one of the few who gave me the opposite. You encouraged, you taught, you led, you understood.

I always felt misunderstood and overlooked in high school. I didn't have an amazing GPA and I wasn't the student body president, but for some reason, you saw something in me. You went the extra mile to show me that I was not alone and I had no reason to be afraid! I am stronger than I ever was because I had you.

Thank you for asking the right questions at the right times. High school had some major rough spots for me and when I was very lost, you helped direct me back to what really mattered.

Thank you for pushing me. At the time, I did not feel thankful for this, at all. I wanted the opposite. But now, I would be a totally different person if I did not have your desire to help me grow as a student and human being.

Thank you for never putting me down. I had a loooooooot of questions and dealt with a lot of self doubt and fear in high school. Thank you for always treating each question as important and valid and for encouraging me to enjoy learning again.

Thank you for extending your hand. Many times I needed help, but was too afraid to ask. Whether it was regarding in or outside the classroom. Without your attention, I would have been in a very different place.

Thank you for sharing your wisdom. The lessons and stories and lectures in your class shaped me. I soaked up every word and now carry that with me into my college career. Your passion for teaching gave me a passion for learning and that is a gift with no price tag.

Thank you for being my devil's advocate. My friends were already feeding me the things I wanted to hear, so thank you for being the slap in the face I needed at times. Thank you for not misleading me or being afraid of hurting me because I needed some tough love.

Lastly, thank you for being my friend. Maybe not while I had you as a teacher, but now as I visit high school as a thing of the past, I look back on some of you and feel like I have a home there. Thank you for not letting me leave bitterly or hard hearted and for making my high school experience worth while.

Never stop doing what you do.