To learn is valuable, but to be taught by a great teacher is priceless.

I owe much of my academic success and intellectual accomplishments to the teachers who have shaped and molded me throughout the course of my elementary, middle school, and high school years. I thank God for each of the teachers I was blessed in having throughout my time at Clopton High School; each donated extra time, energy, and encouragement into my life, investing pieces of themselves into my heart.

Below is a poem written for my beloved teachers; I created it in hopes of sharing just a glimpse of my thankfulness towards those who make so little, yet deserve so much for all of their efforts.

"Knowledge Is Obtained Best When Imparted With Love"

Words could never explain the gratitude I have for you.

You helped me rise to academic success on cue

And taught me the necessity of deciphering truth.

My most difficult days were shaped into glimmering ones;

You took my strikes-out and molded them into home-runs,

Multi-tasking tirelessly to do the same for everyone.

The wisdom, patience, challenges, and even laughter

Are traits every student wishes their teachers took after.

After reading this, some may ask for a teacher drafter! ;)

Thank you for encouraging me to shine my brightest,

For always setting the academic bar at its highest,

And for making my burdens and hardships feel at their lightest.

I wish I could perfectly describe how you made me feel

When you revealed to me my fear of failure wasn't real

And showed me that responsibility meant taking control of the wheel.

I am forever in debt to you, a gift from above.

You have the teaching "magic touch", the spirit of a dove.

And knowledge is always obtained best when imparted with love.

As one can see, I am beyond thankful for the intelligence my teachers passed onto me in the classroom. They taught me that academic success is a reachable standard but also worked overtime to encourage my classmates and me that academics are important, as is character.

Thank you so much, each of my previous teachers, for imparting with me knowledge and for investing in me as a person. I will be forever grateful for the valuable, long-lasting learning experiences you have given to me. Thank you for your diligent work and dedication to your career, and for taking your career and making it into a lifestyle that benefits so many others even when you have to make selfless sacrifices to do so.

I will reiterate once more by saying, "To learn is valuable, but to be taught by a great teacher is priceless!"