I went home one weekend, and I heard a conversation between my parents about the teacher walk out.

When I asked what it was, I was surprised to find out that teachers were walking out of their classrooms to protest and demand more funding for the educational system. My teachers spent years molding me into the person I am today, and I fully support the walkout.

Considering the impact they can have on their students, teachers deserve more.

In the spirit of the teacher walkout, I want to take the time to show how teachers have a strong impact on students' lives, making them more than deserving of better funding.

No one who is in a profession would have gotten there without being taught. Those who went to college wouldn't have been there without teachers to motivate them, encourage them and help them reach their academic goals. Coaches who are also teachers help their students with maintaining GPAs and fine-tuning each athlete's skills to the utmost degree.

Increasing funding for these teachers who spend so much time, energy and money to improve these children's lives, develop their life skills and prepare them for real life is key to keeping these teachers motivated themselves. Lack of resources only limits the lengths these teachers can go to help all of their students. Teachers arrive early for student and stay after to help these students achieve.

Teachers go above and beyond the call of duty to help their students. Teachers are often the parent the students need, the encouragement and motivation to succeed despite the negative lifestyles students feel they have been raised in.

Teachers make it possible for students to believe in themselves and to feel hopeful of making a difference in society. If teachers cannot receive the funding that they deserve, so many students who were destined to be teachers themselves will without a doubt refuse to do so. And, the teachers we have now will lose faith that they can effect change in a student's life.

I owe a lot of my accomplishments to a teacher who believed in me in high school. He made me feel that I could do and be anything, as long as I did things the right way. He taught me a lot about discipline, dedication, motivation and the courage to do things that I thought were impossible.

If one teacher walks, they all walk. Not giving them what they need to change lives will only hurt the school systems in the long run and the rate of dropouts will increase.

So, spread the awareness and join the fight for funding for education! See a teacher and say thank you! Reach out to a teacher who impacted your life and let them known they are seen and appreciated! Let's support our teachers!