You impacted me far more than I can ever give you credit for. Teachers do so much for students as is, but you really went above and beyond for me, and I'll always be eternally grateful. You've impacted so many lives, and it's put all of us who've had the pleasure of knowing you onto a path for success, one that extends far beyond graduation.

You did more than just teach. You became invested in my life and all of my fellow classmates' lives. It became a goal of yours to individually seek out success for everyone who entered your classroom, even if they weren't in one of your classes.

You were my teacher in high school, and it's been a couple years since I've walked in that building as a student. I'm in college now, and I still carry your words of wisdom with me. In fact, it's making me cringe to use the first-person point of view in my writing of this letter to you because of how much you beat it out of my writing in class. I eventually learned.

I always have liked the subject of English, whether that's reading or writing, but you amplified my liking to loving. When I decided I hated a book because it was complicated or had a deeper meaning than I was realizing, you encouraged me to give it a chance.

Well, you forced me to finish it because it was assigned and we had tests over it, but that's beside the point.

I'm an Editor in Chief because of you. I have published work online because of you. I have garnered tens of thousands of page views because of you.

We became so close as both intellectuals and friends that I'll still drop by the school just to hang out with you, help you with grading, and corral your classes when they get too rowdy. I reorganize your bookshelves to make your life a little easier. We go and get brunch at Denny's.

It takes an incredibly unique individual to form that kind of bond with a student, and I'm so thankful to still have you by my side, even though you haven't taught me in a classroom since sophomore year of high school.

You ignited a fire in me. You found a passion inside of me that I didn't even know existed until I had to test over American history, and you fostered it. You tended to it. Now, it's a full-blown forest fire, and I'm forever grateful.

You are the reason I even have a semi-structured plan for the rest of my life. You're the reason I've become involved in my communities, both at college and in the town I now call home.

You taught me the importance of being aware of what's happening in the political sphere, from local levels all the way to Washington, D.C. You taught me to be socially active and educate others so that they can be as well.

Thanks to you, I'm no longer afraid to ask "Why?" and question authority. I'm no longer afraid to speak my mind, and I'm no longer afraid to fight back when necessary. Thanks to you, I stand up for those who can no longer stand up for themselves.

You may think your job is just a job, one that requires long hours, a large workload, and undeservingly low pay. Those things are true, but it's more than just a job to me. To me, your job was a saving grace. High school wasn't that enjoyable, but your classes were the reason I didn't completely dread waking up before 8 a.m.

You prepared me for graduation. That was your task as my teacher, and you succeeded. Actually, you did more than just "succeed," you excelled. You prepared me for much beyond graduation into my adult life.

Because of what you taught me, along with what my intelligent and dedicated professors are currently teaching me in college, I'll also be prepared for graduation at the college level.

What you taught me and fostered within me will never go away.

Although I can't give you the raise you deserve, I can let you know that your hard work and dedication to your job and your students don't go unnoticed, not even a little bit. I know I'm not the only person that could write this letter for you, and that just amplifies the impact you make.

Thank you. For everything.