People say that all around us, there are teachers to be found. We find them in our friends, family, pets, random strangers. However, sometimes we forget about the teachers that are actually there to teach us about certain subjects or ideas.

Of course, there are teachers that aren't my favorite, we just don't always see eye-to-eye on the subject matter or even our personal beliefs. Sometimes those make the most challenging classes because the teacher just isn't your favorite person to be around for an hour every day. But, there are also the teachers that you wish the class could last an hour longer, or that you could just hang out with them after class. These are the teachers that I want to focus on.

I have had a handful of these types of teachers or professors within my years of education. There is the teacher that made me question the social world. That history isn't just what we think it is in our books. This teacher brought out my desire to talk about race and gender and the inequalities that people face around the world. This teacher made me think about how people are portrayed in media and how even news, which should be our most reliable way to get information, isn't always that way. This teacher taught me to ask questions of, not only myself, but the society that I live in and the society that I want to live in.

There is the teacher who brought out my desire for history. The teacher who knew that I was a person who could understand more complicated ideas and who wasn't afraid to stand up for what I believed in. The teacher who I wasn't afraid to have intense discussions about something that I might not understand and their willingness to try to make me understand. The teacher who I knew I could talk to about anything that was bothering me. The teacher who I aspire to make proud one day.

There is the teacher that created the musician that I am today. The teacher who has taught me, not only music, but also on how to be a leader and how to rise to the occasion and take charge. The teacher who told me that it's okay to have bad days, it's what you do with them that matters. The teacher who taught me to not be afraid of being who you are, as long as you're a good person.

There is the teacher who taught me about rekindling my love for literature. The teacher who made me feel like my ideas were important. The teacher who made a classroom feel like a family. The teacher who let their students be who they are and feel unafraid to share their thoughts or concerns. The teacher who made me love being an English major again. The teacher who made me realize that I needed to talk more about gender issues. The teacher who I always wanted to show up to class for. The teacher who I always wanted to make sure I read the homework for that day, because I didn't want to miss anything out of the conversation.

These teachers didn't just teach me about the subjects that they were experts on. They taught me so much more. I aspire to make all of these teachers proud. There is a special place in my heart for these teachers and for all teachers out there that make their students feel anything like this.

Thank you.