Goodbyes and going off to college go hand in hand. You get together one last time with the people who have made you into the person you are: your friends and family. You go out to dinner or sit around the kitchen table and laugh, and cry, and laugh until you cry reflecting on the times spent together. You say your "thank yous" and your "goodbyes" and promise to keep in touch.
It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized another group of people had significantly impacted my life. Entering a place where not all my teachers know my name has caused me to realize how grateful I am for the ones who did. This is to all the teachers for whom the “thanks for everything” at graduation was simply not enough.
Dear Teachers,
In May, we had our final classes, took our exams, walked across that stage and seemingly out of your lives forever. We saw some of you at grad parties or occasionally out to dinner with your families near the school, but for the most part, we won’t see many of you ever again. You didn’t get nearly enough credit for all you put up with on a daily basis and the tireless work you did molding us into the people we were walking across that stage on graduation day. You’ve certainly changed us for the better.
So, thank you.
Thank you for teaching me how to take the derivative of a polynomial function. Even though I don’t see how I will ever use that in my life, Georgia Tech also seems to think it’s a necessary skill. Thank you for teaching me to write a coherent essay so that I can easily convey points to readers (hopefully, I’m employing that lesson here). Thank you for every homework extension and mercifully grading those late night papers. Thank you for teaching me that I’m more than a number. Thank you for welcoming me into your community and fully investing yourselves in me. Thank you for being you.
Also, I’m sorry.
While I’m not entirely apologetic of my sass, I am sorry that you had to put up with it every day. I’m sorry for the grumpy, tired mornings and the hyper, talkative afternoon classes. I’m sorry for not always doing the homework or reading SparkNotes instead of Hamlet (and I’m sorry for skimming even the SparkNotes version). I’m sorry for making you grade the quizzes I bombed and for asking you to completely reteach a lesson because I wasn't paying attention. I’m sorry for not giving 100% when everything you were teaching was for my benefit.
Lastly, I couldn’t have done it without you.
I sought an academically engaging environment and desired enthusiastic, caring teachers who taught with their students’ best interests in mind. I found that in all of you. You saw in me what I didn’t see in myself, and believed in me and encouraged me every step of the way. I truly couldn’t have become the person I am today without you playing a major role in my life.
So here’s to you, Teachers. Brad Henry once said, “A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” You’ve done all this and more, and I can’t thank you enough.
Sincerely,
Your Student
