An Open Letter To My High School Teachers | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

An Open Letter To My High School Teachers

What we couldn't fit in our grad cards to the ones who still believed in us, even after hearing our "hushed" conversations in the common rooms.

19
An Open Letter To My High School Teachers

With graduation pictures surfacing left and right, I could not help but reflect upon my high school days. When thinking, or reminiscing, about high school, we often think about the memories we shared with our friends. Those moments, and who we shared them with, may have largely affected who we are now. However, we often overlook our teachers and their impact. We forget about who had to teach us difficult subject matter, whilst simultaneously acting as collateral damage from our teenage angst.

Dear respected teachers,

Thank you. Thank you for teaching me how to conduct a hypothesis test, how to analyze texts and sources, how to convert measurements, as well as how to use parallel structure and polysyndeton in my writing. These academic skills are truly invaluable. However, it was the lessons given, perhaps unintentionally, in-between classes that affected me the most.

Although we have been instructed to avoid clichés like the plague, I have to thank you for teaching me that “timing is everything.” Like acquiring maximum number of likes on an Instagram post, making the perfect cup of tea or obtaining someone’s help, good timing is essential for success. We quickly learned that the best time to do, say or ask for something is after you have had your caffeine fix(es).

By occasionally saying “no," you taught us that even if planned and timed with military precision, things do not always turn out as we expect. Thus, we (over time) learned to accept failure with grace. Saying “no” also pushed us to explore other ways to get what we wanted and perhaps try again or to scrap the idea altogether. Your firm stances taught us to be strong. However, your constant willingness to help, even in non-academic situations, showed us that firmness and kindness were not mutually exclusive.
...However, we never complained when you said "yes."

Even when we were anxiously awaiting standardized test scores, and you were the ones who were handing back graded work, you taught us that our grades were a part of us, rather than a measure of our self-worth. We learned there was more to us. Although highly praised for our academic achievements, we were encouraged to also pursue success in other fields. You commended us for our awards in sports, student government, the arts and/or whatever else we did. Though you applauded our accomplishments, you never hesitated to help us improve. Thus, we learned to be confident, but not arrogant, in our abilities.

The confidence you instilled in us led to a confidence in our peers. As opposed to envying the successes of others, we learned to celebrate together. We clapped when we heard our friends' names in assembly, and we clapped even harder at graduation. Thank you for not only teaching us how to apply Pythagoras’ Theorem to our everyday lives, but for everything else as well.

With warm regards,
Your Appreciative Student

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

5 Things To Do That Are Better Than Writing A Paper

Don't waste your time trying to write that paper when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing.

166
computer keyboard
Unsplash

Writing a paper is never fun and is rarely rewarding. The writer's block, the page requirement, be specific, but don’t summarize, make sure you fixed any grammatical errors, did you even use spellcheck? and analyze, analyze, analyze.

Papers can be a major pain. They take up so much time and effort that by the end of the process you hate yourself and you hate the professor for making life so difficult. Questions of your existence start roaming in your mind. Am I even cut out for college if I can’t write a single paper? Am I even capable of taking care of myself if I lack the energy to open my laptop and start typing?

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons Why Sisters Are The Best

Who could be a better friend than your own sister?

188
sisters
Taylor Hooper

I can barely remember back when I was the only child. Most would say it’s because it is extremely difficult to remember things as a toddler but I would say it's because I was bored until my sister came along. My mother always says how important the "sister bond" is and with every year that passes I realize how right she is. Instead of writing a novel about all of the wonderful things there are about having a sister I decided to list a few of them instead.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Adult

You're gonna make it after all.

1822
how to adult
Twitter

It is the time of our lives that we are beginning to enter the adult world and most of us, if not all of us, have no idea what we are doing. It's like starting a video game, but skipping the tutorial. We're all just running around aimlessly hoping we accidentally do something right that moves us along the right path. Now that graduation has just happened, or is right around the corner for some of us, it's time to start thinking about how we are going to take care of ourselves once we are on our own.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

7 Signs You're A Starbucks Addict

I'll be the first one to admit I'm addicted to Starbucks.

768
drinking coffee
Tumblr

If you’re anything like me, you love a good cup of coffee. My coffee always comes from Starbucks; I refuse to drink it from anywhere else. Over the years, it’s become one of my biggest addictions. So, if you are aware that you’re a Starbucks addict as well, or maybe you need to check to see if you’re an addict, here are seven ways to tell.

Keep Reading...Show less
people  in library
Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash

College involves a whirlwind of emotions, whether it’s from the stress of an assignment (or twenty), or from fighting with your roommate. It can be overwhelming at times and it’s important to take a step a back and calmly think things over. Maybe gain some perspective. The following aren’t foolproof tips and may not apply to you, but I was able to find success with them (hope you do too!)

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments