Looking back on my past seven years of education, I see the major differences in the classes I took in high school and those I have taken in college. Throughout my four years of high school, my career decision changed many times; and when deciding on my classes I would take my senior year I had a hard time deciding on what would be the best fit. I contemplated classes that would help me once I graduated, and also contemplated those which just sparked an interest in me. High school is always a time of classes that one dreads to take and little elective choice, and even when given a choice these classes usually remain related to the core classes. These classes pose many similarities to those we have already taken but are often characterized with more free reign than those we have taken previously. Some may view this as a prison sentence to take yet another English or science class, but due to having the proper teacher, these classes soon became some of my favorite. I learned not only the needed class material but also life lessons and more about myself and what interested me. These classes became what I had a passion for and what would motivate me as I continued my schooling. Soon I compared these classes, and more importantly, these teachers to all of my future classes. Teachers are often some of the most unappreciated people in our society and this is especially true for those teachers who do more than they ever need to do. Although I could never find the right words to show my appreciation, I hope that this letter does justice to show not only how you have impacted my life as a student, but as a human being and how your class and lessons I have learned impacted both my schooling and my life as a whole.

First, I would like to say, thank you. Thank you for not everything you have done for me during my time in your class, but for what you do for all of your students and the impact you make on each and every one of their lives. Sometimes we may forget to tell you how thankful we are for everything that you do for us and all of the extra time and efforts you put into everything for us. This does not mean that we do not care about the passion you put into our class in order to help us learn better and be not only better students but better members of the society. We understand that you spend hours at home grading our papers when you should be spending time with your families. We understand that you spend countless hours creating lesson plans and other materials in order to better our understanding of the material, all while on your own time and for no extra pay. We understand that you go out to the store and buy materials for our classes with your own money and often no one realizes or appreciates this fact. These actions do not remain unnoticed though and they do not remain useless. These are the actions that have caused us to become better students and to be able to go forth in our education with our heads held up high and confident of our own abilities.

For you, our class was never just about learning the material, criteria set by some government official who had no idea how our class functioned or what intellectuals resided in it. Our class became built on discussions and all opinions were always welcome. You always remained more concerned with the importance of our actual learning and thinking than what was presented on paper. We remained human beings to you and not just names on a paper, names that could and would soon be replaced as each year came to a close. Your class soon became an escape for me, a class in which I could think openly and honestly without the fear of being judged for my opinions. The importance of the class to me never was due to something I learned in a book, it was about the life lessons I learned in the class from you and the compassion you had for us, your students.

Thank you for believing in me and what I was capable, even when I could no longer see it. You showed me the passion I had for learning and by helping me throughout my four years of high school, you have created a passion in me to help others. You lit a fire in me that I never knew was there and caused me to want to further my education in all ways possible, no matter what obstacles may come in my way. Your class reminded me of my love of English and science in my life and what I learned in your class still remains present to this day. Your class not only taught me the material we covered in our books and that were in our tests. Your class taught me about myself and the goodness of people and how important education actually is. You have shown me all the opportunities that are in front of me and have given me the strength, courage, and perseverance to go forth and take on the challenges that lay in front of me as I go after these many opportunities. If it was not for your presence in my education, I may not be in the place that I am today. I may not have the drive that lives deep inside me and guides me as I continue my education. Your class has shown me the importance of hard work but has also shown me that with hard work you will reap great success.

These were not just classes to fill up a free space. They helped to nurture the passion I already had for the subject and for education as a whole. They made me think differently about every future problem I faced not only in the education setting but in my life in general. I learned through these classes that the best decision is not always that first that I may come to or the easiest one I am presented with, sometimes the best decision takes the most work but also reaps the best reward. I learned to always have faith in myself even when I can not see a light at the end of the tunnel and that I can accomplish more than I think that I can. Thank you for being more than a teacher to me. You have been a role model and a guidance as I worked my way throughout high school and into my college career. You were always an ear to listen and gave advice in any way that you could. Thank you for all that you do and I will remember the impact you have imprinted on my life for the rest of my days. I can only hope to one day make the same impact on someone's life that you have made on mine.