I graduated high school a year ago and have finished my first year of college. Through all the stress and challenges I had to overcome over this past year, I always thought back to my favorite high school teacher who molded me into the student I am today. I never realized since I left that classroom, how much one teacher could change my life and completely turn it upside down. I learned lessons not only inside the classroom but also outside, about life. I had a best friend who I could come to throughout the school day, someone who would sign my passes when I was late to class. Someone who could just tell by the way I got ready in the morning if my day was going to be a good one or a bad one. It is true what they say that a teacher can change your life.
His tests were the most difficult things I have ever taken. We both knew, in reality, I shouldn’t have taken his class, but that didn’t let him give up on me. We talked about study habits and you wouldn’t believe the hours I had put into trying to figure which one worked the best. His essays drove me insane. He was the hardest grader I had ever encountered. I had to triple check my essays. I would have multiple people look over them and when I got it back he handed me a 50 and a paper destroyed in gel pen. I knew being in his class was all business. I was always ready to learn and when I answered a question right, we were both obviously excited. I carried the note taking skills he taught me straight into college. I went from being the slowest writer in his class to the quickest one in college. I took his test taking tips all the way to me making the Dean’s list my first semester in College. He encouraged me to try my hardest and never gave up on me which followed me into College and molded me into a model student.
He was more than a teacher. Even after my last day of being his student I was always allowed back into his classroom. He listened to me vent about my parents, school and boys. I remember one day I was so stressed out, I couldn’t handle my workload and I felt my anxiety kicking in. I came to him basically in tears and he put his hands on my shoulder and told me “I taught you better than this! You can handle this I know you can!” Although that didn’t stop me from crying the next period it did help me relax a lot more. His classroom was my safe place. He was the only person who made it clear only he was allowed to make fun of me and the only person who to this day that will defend me. I tried to bond with other teachers like I bonded with him and it was almost impossible.
He saw me transform from a scared sophomore to the adult I am today and I can say not once he ever doubted me. He always gave me words of encouragement to help me grow, gave me reality checks when they were needed and made me laugh when I was about to break. I left his classroom on my last day of high school almost in tears. It was so hard saying goodbye to my favorite teacher. It was so hard saying goodbye until I came back from college and paid him a surprise visit. No matter how far I travel or how much I grow I can always come back to his class and talk to him. Although at times he shakes his head at me or I say things that he holds over my head forever, he reminds me the bad times will pass. I just want to say thank you for changing me and seeing someone worth teaching. You will always be my favorite teacher. Thank you for changing my life.
High School is tough, but once you find that teacher that changes you, things just seem so much better. When you feel alone, you have a friend who makes sure you get through the day. Teachers are such an important part of our lives. Every single one has touched our hearts and minds in such unique ways and has transformed us into who we are, but there is always one. There will always be one teacher who pushes you the extra mile, who won’t give up on you and who sees what you are too blind to see. Those teachers go under appreciated. A single teacher has changed my life and I can never thank him enough for that. I am the young adult I am today because of someone who saw something special in me and because of that I never gave up.
