I will never forget you.

You were my AP English teacher during my Junior and Senior year. You were strict, firm, and occasionally terrifying.

I had no idea what to expect walking into your classroom on the first day of Junior year. Would I be able to pass if I pushed myself harder than usual? Or would I fail miserably because of the workload?

The choice was up to me.

In your class, you were hard on us. Sometimes, you belittled us for not knowing the answer. Your comments on my assignments were painful. You were a brilliant teacher, but a hard grader.

You broke me.

No matter how hard I tried on my assignments, I was lucky to get a D. Your comments on my papers made me think extremely low of myself.

I became terrified of participating in class discussions in fear of being ridiculed for my ideas.

I experienced a full-blown panic attack (vomiting included) before walking into your classroom to take the final exam.

You filled my exhausted teenage brain with grammar rules, analysis tools and levels of stress that I had never known; levels that I didn't think existed.

Your class was a living hell for me, and I can't thank you enough.

Because of your class, I was prepared for college. I was exempt from college English classes. I knew what to expect in terms of academics.

My grades in college improved since high school. I learned better study habits. I worked harder than I've ever worked before.

I now understand tough love. I know that people sometimes show how much they care by pushing you to your limits because they know that you are capable of great things.

Because of your class, I have never gotten lower than an A- on a college paper. I've only gotten one B in the 2 years that I've been in college.

I learned not to procrastinate. I learned how college would be at only 16 years old, and I listened up. I am beyond glad that I listened up.

Because of you, I made the Dean's List 2 years in a row. I got invited to join two Honor Societies.

I went from being a math-and-science kid to a lover of literature. Writing has become my passion, and I never want to stop.

Because of you, I got accepted to be a writer for a publication. I became a slam poet. I became a creative writer. I became...me.

You broke me, but you gave me the tools fix myself.

Thank you for everything you have done for me. One day I hope to thank you in person.