To my very Dear Friend,

Without you I would have never been the person I am today. You have made me grow into the smart and confident woman I am today. You say that all of that is because of me and maybe that's true but you underestimate the impact you've had on anyone. In classes, you never would let anyone do anything but their best and I'm proud to say that you were my teacher.

I walked into freshman year of high school dreading the subject of history. My middle school teacher made it the worst period of the day and sadly I misjudged your class. Global became the best part of my day.

That Global class affected me in so many ways; I got new friends one of whom I consider to be my best friend, I remember catchy phrases you made up to help us remember (Do your dharma, get good karma, so your atman can achieve moksha), I changed my study habits, began to consider history interesting and most importantly I felt welcomed.

When I had to move after hurricane Sandy from New York to Pennsylvania I was excited and scared. Everyone else was upset about me leaving but you always kept it light, calling it Bucks County and promising to become my Facebook friend. It made me walk with a little bit more confidence in my step but when I got there I couldn't help but miss actually having a history class that didn't just play boxing movies. I yearned to learn and to broaden my skills and none of that was happening there. So I moved back.

Moving back was just as painful as moving. I came back a week before midterms and missed months of curriculum and my friends moved on and found new ones and frankly, they weren't interested in me coming back. All but you and the friend I made in Global. When I returned I remember you being so shocked and happy and I was flabbergasted that you even remembered me and noticed I was gone. You also were the most helpful in returning to the curriculum. To my surprise I received my highest midterm grade ever that year, 96!

I can't tell you how many times I've told someone that they needed to get you as a teacher or even just go to for help with anything. I fear the days that I won't be able to run to the SSRC and tell you what a terrible day I've been having, or good. It was comforting always knowing that whenever my life seemed to take a turn for the worst you were always there for me, whether you knew it or not.

I've never seen a teacher care more for a student than for a paycheck in years. I've never felt that the person in high school I'd miss the most would be a HISTORY TEACHER. I see on Facebook how pissed you are that the Common Core takes away from teaching and the connection a teacher has with their students and also how loved you felt when all the students would come to you and tell you that you're the best... what it shows me is how great you are at doing your job and how much you care about it.

I'm doing my best in college to show that you did the right thing by helping me all these years and that with the right motivation I can do anything. You're a great teacher, no, astounding teacher Mr. Bruno. I hope that you go to school every day knowing that.

Your good friend and old student,

Kacy Luhrs