Everyone has someone in their life that has made an impact on who they are, whether it is a parent, coach, sibling, or teacher. I was lucky; I had at least one of what I just listed. But, I wanted to focus on one that may not get as much recognition as they should: teachers. Teachers, every day, make an impact on their students, whether they know it or not. Remember your kindergarten teacher and how they taught you to write your name and count to 100? Or maybe it was your fifth grade teacher when you finally were able to learn long division. It could have been your high school history teacher, even though you hated history. This teacher was able to open your eyes to new ideas and understand the importance of our past. Teaching is one of the most important, hardest, and impactful jobs in the world. It doesn’t matter where you look, teachers will (and justifiably so) be on that list. I had two very important teachers that helped me build the confidence that I needed to follow my heart and make me feel that I could make a difference in this world.

High school was tough for me. But you made it easier. You made going to class every day worthwhile. I loved all of the discussions we had about the material we read in class.

Thank you for seeing potential in me and in my writing. You helped me feel confident enough to share what I wrote to more than those who were close to me.

Thank you for showing me how great literature can be. There were times where I thought what you were teaching us was pointless to the real world, but never have I been so wrong.

Thank you for broadening my horizon in more than just English. I learned to have a passion for history as well because of you too.

Thank you for taking the extra time to make sure everyone felt comfortable asking you for help and giving that help when people asked.

Thank you for taking an interest in me and caring about the things I was passionate about.

Thank you for sharing your college stories and showing us that you have messed up too, but that’s okay because your mistakes don’t define who you are.

Thank you for challenging us to question even our own beliefs and make us really think about what our own morals are, not what people have told us to think.

Thank you for geeking out with me about "The Lord of the Rings" and referencing it in class and randomly discussing it with me in class.

Thank you for letting me express myself and standing up for me when my peers would try to shame me for being who I was.

Thank you for pushing me do to more even after I left high school; you were still my cheerleader saying I am capable of so much more.

Thank you for showing me that it is okay to have different beliefs than those around me and to not shy away from them just because others might not think the same.

Thank you for letting me bitch about the boys I met the first semester of college and you not really reassuring me, saying they are still just going to be as stupid after college.

Thank you for unknowingly helping me decide that being a teacher is something I want to do. I want to make an impact on my students like you have impacted me. I know you are still changing the lives of your students and I can’t wait for the day I can do the same.