I want to dedicate this article in memory of a woman I was blessed to have in my life. Since I entered your classroom on my first day of first grade, I loved you. Maybe it was because you have the most loving last name a person could have, or because your smile was so welcoming and reassuring.

We may have lost touch a few years in between, but I never forgot you. I am so thankful we were able to reconnect these last few years because you have definitely left an impact on my life. I can truly say, to have known you, was to know what pure happiness looks like. It was to know what hope looked like in the face of the worst of times. It was to know what strength looked like in the weakest of moments.

I wish we were able to spend more time together but your beautiful soul inspired me and will continue to do so. From the encounters I have shared with you and the sweet memories I will be left with, you have taught me several things.

The first is that life is short and there is no time to spend being unhappy, having anger consume us, or doing anything that doesn't make us happy. I don't think I have ever met a person who was as happy as you. You had such a positive outlook on life even in the hardest of times. Thank you for reminding me how beautiful it is to radiate happiness.

Another thing I have learned from the way you lived your life is to spread happiness and positivity to others. I am sure that most of what brought you pure happiness was uplifting others and seeing them happy. Without meaning to, you have inspired so many.

As a teacher you did more than teach - you inspired your students to go after their dreams and live their best lives. In the last few years that we reconnected, you have uplifted my spirits so many times without knowing. You have inspired and encouraged me in beautiful, touching ways. Your constant remarks and words of encouragement were something I always looked forward to. I wanted to dedicate this article to you because from the day I started writing, you were one of my biggest supporters.

One last important thing that I have learned from you and the legacy you have left behind is that even in the face of the hardest of times, you have to pull through and trust in God. Not only do I know that you put it in the hands of God but you had a smile on your face and believed in the best, something that I need to be reminded of. The strength that you have shown me through our moments together is inspiring, and I hope to have that kind of strength as well.

Thank you for leaving such a beautiful legacy and living such an inspiring life. It is moments like these where I sit back and reevaluate my own life and the decisions I make. Thank you for inspiring me.