To my high school English teachers,

You are a superhero. You might not walk the halls wearing a cape (although I don’t know what goes on after school) but you have some pretty mighty powers. No matter how much we may have wanted to, we could not escape your English classes. I bet if you had a dollar for every time you’ve heard, “I know how to speak English what do I need to learn it for?” you’d not only cringe at the inappropriate use of a preposition, but you’d also be the most well-paid teacher to date. I know we as students didn’t appreciate you enough and we complained almost, if not, every single day in your class. Don’t feel bad though, we did that in all of our classes. But what we did not realize at the time -- and what I have realized since graduating high school -- is that you might very well have been one of the most influential teachers we encountered. You often don’t get the recognition that you deserve, just know that you are appreciated.

One of the things I have taken away from my high school career is my love of words and passion for literature. For this, I give most of the credit to you, my high school English teachers. You taught me to read not only what is on the page, but between the lines as well. A lesson that applies both on and off the pages of a good book. You taught me to take a piece of literature and relate it to something meaningful. You made reading fun, even if it was Macbeth. I still have the many video projects to prove it. Because of you, I pursued a literature class in college and it has been the most enjoyable class I have taken so far. I have to thank you for giving me confidence in my writing abilities; I'm now an editor in chief of a rapidly growing organization. Remember when you constantly had to remind me to read for your class? Well, I read on my own time now. I even spend quite a bit of time in the library. Although I must apologize, because I still have not read "The Scarlet Letter." It is on my list, though, so I will get to it one day and I’m sure you’ll hear about it when I do.

I also want to thank you for continuing to be a support system even though I’m no longer your student. You do not hesitate to answer any questions I have about a paper I’m writing for class. You also don’t get mad at me when I send you multiple emails because I think you forget about me. I still to this day think back on the lessons I sat through in your classroom when I write for classes now. I’ve also stated countless times how I wish I could sit through your class again. On those rare occasions when I do decide to visit my old high school, you’re always the first and last classroom I stop by — no offense to the rest of my high school teachers. I tried so hard to impress you with my words while I was in your class and I still strive to make you proud enough to say “that was one of my students”. You believed in my abilities and didn’t allow me to succumb to mediocrity. You pushed me to challenge myself and for that I’m extremely grateful. I’m not sure what you do in your free time, or if it involves a cape and a secret identity, but you will always be considered a hero in my book (Ha! Get it?).

With much admiration,

The appreciative student.