“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” While Brad Henry could not have been more correct when he provided this quote, there is one other thing, among thousands, that teachers can do especially well. They can inspire us to be teachers. No, not all of us will follow in the footsteps of the ones who prepared us for a higher education, but those of us who have, we owe our teachers a special thank you. So, here is a highly necessary and appreciative letter to my favorite teachers as I start my journey as an education major.
FIrst things first-- thank you for getting me where I am today. It may seem obvious to say this, but you taught me what I needed to know to even get into college in the first place. Without you to teach me all of those countless trigonometry equations, laws of economics and countries of the world, I could not have achieved the grades I did and be accepted to college. While it is possible to teach yourself many things, you need to have an awe-inspiring teacher to spark your desire to learn. After all, we learn more when we enjoy who we are learning from. From the kindergarten teachers who taught us the alphabet, to our senior English teachers who taught us the stories of Oedipus Rexand the savage boys in "Lord of the Flies," each and everything we have ever been taught has brought us to the places we are today.
Secondly, thank you for the truth. All of us education majors know that we will not be doctors, and more than likely we will not be making as much money as doctors, but you taught me that money is not the only reward you can gain from a job. We may have been told stories or heard about when you were inspired to be a teacher, but more than that, we could see it. We saw it in the passion you had when you would teach. We saw it in the way you would do everything in your power to help us when we wouldn’t understand. And that is what I thank you for-- For showing me that while it may be stressful to make lesson plans, grade assignments and make sure you are following the curriculum standards, being able to teach about something you truly love to students that you care about is the greatest reward.
Finally, thank you for being a role model. Why would I want to be a teacher if you were not a wonderful teacher yourself? You have shown me and every student that knowledge is rewarding. You taught us what we have become passionate about ourselves. Because of you, I realized that doing just that is what I want to do: Teach students to become passionate about what I enjoy. Although I do not wish to and know I will not be able to make every student I have a musician, I hope to bring a greater understanding and enjoyment to what they are learning. I wish for them to look at me and see that I am excited about what I am teaching, and that they become excited about what they are learning. Without you, I would have never understood that this is what becoming a teacher is all about.
All of my teachers deserve credit for where I am today. I may only be in my second semester as an education major, but I understand that my teachers inspired me to become who I am, as a student, and as a person. We education majors want to extend a special thank you. So, thank you. Thank you for being such wonderful teachers and wonderful people. Thank you for helping us to realize that one day, we want to inspire students just as you inspired us. Thank you.
