To the teachers who changed me for the better,
You are the reason I am where I am today. While I was in your classes I may have been less than your biggest fan, but I can confidently say today that what you pushed to do and achieve in the classroom led me to be successful in college. And not simply academically, but socially and mentally as well.
Thank you for asking more of me when I wanted to give less. For pushing me to get better rather than stay stagnant. For sticking with me when I couldn't figure out an equation or a grammar rule. Because you did not give up on me, neither did I.
I will be truthful, I was not a fan of being pushed and asked more of when I was in elementary, middle, and high school. It would have been much simpler for you to accept this and let me continue being average. But you did not. Instead of letting my writing mold to the standards of my classmates, you made me think more critically. You expected nothing but excellence when it came to my assignments. This certainly made for some rough nights while I was writing a paper or filling out a physics worksheet.
But if I had not been urged to become better, I would not have.
The confidence I have as a student would not exist today. I would not be able to handle a full course load and extra jobs (yes, plural). By expecting me to perform at a higher level you prepared me for college in many ways my peers were not.
Instead of feeling lost looking at a syllabus, I was prepared. You had shown me one before and expected me to figure it out. Rather than panic when I got my first rubric for a paper I calmly got to work. Because that's what I was used to, because of you.
There are not many words to express the gratitude I feel towards you, but I believe that "thank you" captures it fairly well. Thank you for the long nights. Thank you for the C's on papers I did not put all of my efforts into. Thank you for expecting more from me and pushing me to become better each and every class period.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am who I am today because of what you wanted me to be throughout my classes leading to college. I am a capable student who knows that work equals success, and I did not have to learn this in college. I already knew it. Because of you, I learned that there is always room for improvement--even when you believe you've just done the best work you could ever do.
I am better, I am smarter, and I am confident because of your teaching. And I will forever be grateful for every minute I spent under your instruction.
Sincerely,
Your Student
