It was the first semester of my senior year in high school and I was feeling more than just senioritis. I always felt tired, sometimes even exhausted. I was an involved student and I worked hard all through high school, but by senior year, I just felt overwhelmed. I lost my passion to do well in school. I would lay in bed for hours and could never motivate myself to get up and do work or study. I had always held myself to high standard when it came to my performance in school, but for some reason I could not force myself to care at that point. I only looked forward to the minor escapes on the weekends and holidays.

Not surprisingly, my grades started to slip. I was doing the absolute minimum in all my extracurricular activities. I had to leave National Honor Society. I felt that everyone was disappointed in me: my teachers, my parents and even other students in my extracurricular clubs. I felt like I was letting down everyone who depended on or looked up to me for something. I was in a rut and I really wasn't sure how to even begin getting out. I was conflicted between being joyful in experiencing the most memorable events of high school during senior year, but also going through some of the hardest times that I had thus far.

However, you never gave up on me.

I struggled the most with the class that you taught. I never did well with mathematics, but you were always there to help. I sat at your desk every day for hours and we did the assignments together. After reviewing for the tests together, I was always nervous to take it, but you assured me that I was ready, and that is what I really needed.

I needed to be reminded of what I was capable of. You saw inside of me what most people and even myself couldn't see anymore. I lost sight of my goals, my future and my passion and you helped me find it again. I failed so many times but you always set me up to try again.

Every student will go through a rough patch at some point throughout his or her education. Mine just happened to be at an extremely crucial time. I felt like I was tripping right before I got to the finish line. I will forever be indebted to the teacher that helped me pick up the pieces. And I know I'm not the only one.

Thank you for all the hours that you stayed up at night worrying about your students (especially me). Thank you for all the hours you spent during the day at your desk helping us get caught up with our schoolwork and never leaving until we understood it. Most importantly, thank you for keeping me from falling apart. I always had what I needed to get out of that rut and you helped me find it. At my every achievement I'll never forget my lowest point and the person that was there for me at my worst. I hope that when you are tired and frustrated you are reminded of the impact you have made on our lives. I hope that you see in every struggling student, there is someone who just got stuck and needs to be reminded of their potential. Thank you for helping me get unstuck.