Where do I even start? A mere “thank you” does no justice to all you have done for me, but I’m certainly going to try.

Thank you for choosing the profession that you did. I know this one might sound silly, but if for some reason you had went down another path, I doubt you would have impacted quite as many lives as you have now. I could not imagine not seeing your smiling face every day, or dealing with your cheeriness to start another (somewhat boring) lecture.

Thank you for always pushing me to try harder. There were times when I thought I couldn’t make it through your class, times when the material was too much, times when out of school situations made focusing tough. But you always made sure to keep an extra eye out, assisted me in seeking resources to do better, and always had a positive “can do” attitude.

Thank you for reminding me that any goal I set is attainable. That no matter how big, like becoming the President, or how small, like owning my own business, that I can do absolutely anything. Whether it be school related or not, you taught me that anything I set my mind to, I can accomplish. I will be forever grateful.

Thank you for all your hard work. For the extra hours of help after school, to letters of recommendation, to being a person I could confide in. When you became a teacher, nobody said you had to go the extra mile. Nobody said you had to stay hours after school, or coach a sport, or come in extra early. Thank you for going above and beyond.

Thank you for always believing in me. When I was down and out on myself and felt as if the weight of the world was crashing down on my shoulders, you reminded me to keep my chin up. That brighter days are ahead, and you can’t get to all the good things in life without some trials and tribulations. Thank you for being a support system and a friend.

This article doesn’t do any justice to the impact you have had on not only my own life, but countless others of your students as well. To say that you have inspired others or touched people’s lives is an understatement. In whatever career I choose or wherever life leads me, I hope to be at least half as dedicated as you. If I can accomplish that, well, then I can do just about anything.