To the teacher who changed me:
I owe my success thus far to many influential people in my life. From parents, siblings, close friends, extended family, and whatnot, I have had a network of support to help me get to where I am today. However, you have constantly been one of the strongest advocates of my personal achievements, and while your support has provided some of the most necessary encouragement and help, it is also the most underrated.
And so, I'd like to take a moment to thank you for your incredible influence on my life.
You taught in the classroom, but applied these lessons in the real world. You shaped my character in ways that others couldn't. You engaged with me and made me feel at home. You established your trust in me, and I in you. And this trust is something that remains with me today.
You taught me that there is nothing wrong with being wrong, and asking questions is the best way to learn. You showed me that I should never be afraid to step out of my comfort zone to achieve something great. You demanded honesty and integrity not only from me, but from all of your students. You reminded us what a privilege it is to have an education, a precious thing that is coveted all around the world. From you, I have learned things that are normally not taught within the walls of a classroom.
There were times that I hated you. I hated how you pushed me to succeed, how I had to constantly give 100 percent effort for everything in your class. At the time, I wished that you had lower standards, standards that didn't require us to give so much for what seemed like so little.
How grateful am I now, that your demanded the best.
Because whenever you pushed me to be the best, to put extra effort into that assignment, to participate in class, to be academically honest, you were preparing me for the real world. Like a mother bird teaching her young fledgling to fly, you taught us how to soar with success in the real world.
The real world silently demands honesty, respect, effort, hard work, and success on a daily basis. You've instilled those qualities in me so that while others work to meet them, they come naturally to me.
So thank you. Thank you for teaching me to live with an open heart and an open mind, and to accept other's differences. Thank you for showing me how to be patient, and kind, and respectful. Thank you for demanding excellence at all times, for pushing me to excel constantly, and to give up never. Thank you for planting the seed of achievement and for sparking the light of motivation within me. Thank you for reminding me that hard work and honesty are some of the most crucial traits one can ever possess.
I wish I could say more than "thank you", as it seems like it's not enough to show how appreciative I am of you. But for now, it will have to do, as there are not enough words to express my gratitude to you.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
A student you've changed for the better
