I’m not going to lie, after my first day of class with you my sophomore year I wanted to drop the class. We butted heads almost every day, but somewhere within the first month of the semester I realized you were strict with us because you cared about our education. So first and foremost, thank you! Thank you for genuinely caring about my education and where my future would take me.

You told me I was a good writer and you pushed me to my full writing potential. As well with every other aspect of my life. You were the person I came to if I had a problem with my other teachers, if my athletics were bothering me, if I was having boyfriend or friendship issues. You were the first and only teacher that I wanted to tell instantly that I was accepted into North Dakota State University. I went to you for advice on picking a roommate. You helped me figure out if I would like them. Your advice worked perfectly, too; I couldn’t be any happier with my roommate.

You pushed me to join the school newspaper, and I only agreed to join because you were the teacher. At first I was terrified at the thought that I had to go interview the upperclassmen, yet you always assigned me to those articles. You pushing me out of my comfort zone, made me the writer I am today.

Though I did not continue in the school newspaper for my senior year, I could still be found in your classroom on a daily basis just to come say hi and let you vent about the new kids (even though I laughed because they were doing everything I used to do).

I’m almost done with my freshman year of college and it’s been almost two years since I sat in your classroom as one of your students. The lessons you didn’t even realize you were teaching me are still engraved into my brain -- along with the new lessons I learn from you when I come home for break and get coffee with you. I look forward to being home in May just so I can tell you about how crazy my second semester of college has been, even though you shake your head at some of my stories.

Having a teacher who made such a big impact on someone’s life is hard to find, and I am forever thankful to have had a teacher like you. Thank you for making me believe in myself and to push myself to the best of my ability in everything I did. Thank you for not only being my teacher, but my friend.