Dear Teacher,

When I was a freshman in high school, I was beyond scared. I was fresh out of middle school, and entering a new area was terrifying. My very first class was your class, and I felt so awkward. I just sat there and stayed quiet. You though, you had so much energy, you had so much excitement.

A few weeks in, I became more interactive in your class. Your class was more laidback, and just more fun. You made me feel at home in a school where I was the bigger kid. I knew your room was a place that I was always welcomed. It wasn't much longer until I started to come to you with problems I was having.

I will never forget the one day that I came into your room and asked if we could talk. We sat down, and I cried my heart out. I have never been in worse pain during school, and I never really cried in front of people. It was the first time I really cried. I missed a full class hour, but you took the time to sit down and listen to me. You gave me advice that I needed to hear.

You then became my cheer coach my junior year. You were, and still are, a great coach. If I had questions concerning cheer, you would always give me the answer, or you would share your ideas with me. Now following to my senior year, you were there.

From when I started filling out college applications, other than my mom, you were so excited to hear where I was thinking of going. I remember when I first told you that I was accepted into BSU. You were ecstatic. Then after getting accepted into the rest of my choices, I finally picked out a school. UND was my choice, and you couldn’t have been more supportive of my decision.

That was just the start of my stress. I was in a forensic science class, and I had never stressed over a class so hard in my life. I came to you when I was stressing about that class. When I told you I passed that class, you were so happy for me, because the stress was over, and I wasn’t crabby. I then signed up for Comp 1 in high school, and you already knew I was going to stress out – which turned out to be very true. I don’t know how I could’ve tolerated that class if you weren’t one of my teachers.

Close to the end of the year, cheer tryouts were coming up. Slight issue, they were held the day of prom. I came to you crying my heart out once again. You sat with me and talked to me to calm me down, and think about my options. You then helped me come to the decision that I wanted to take a year off. I also wanted to rush in a sorority, and doing both at the same time my freshman year, I had no idea how it was going to turn out.

Graduation came, and you watched me walk across that stage. I know you were extremely proud of me. I was proud of myself, as well. Thinking back to high school, and one of my favorite memories, it was asking you to walk with me during senior night. I had to pick a teacher who made a difference or meant a lot to me. I chose you. You were the only teacher that dealt with me for all my high school years. The one who listened to me when I needed an ear. You were the biggest help and I don’t know where I would’ve been in high school if I didn’t have you as my teacher those four years.

Thank you for going above and beyond as a teacher and as a person. You inspired me to be an independent, hardworking, and positive person. I can never give you enough thanks, because they will never be enough. You changed my life and I am forever blessed. I know all of us students that you have impacted are forever grateful that we were blessed with you. Thank you.

Sincerely,

A student whose life you changed