To the High School Teacher Who Changed Me

To the teacher who wasn't my "friend",

I've had this idea for a while now to address something to you. I don't know why I've decided to do this now rather than before. I feel it is something I just have to get off my chest. I've been away at college for a semester, and I still come back to you in my mind. I think you did a fantastic job with about 98% of your students, but of course I am one of the few you didn't. I don't think I need to explain what happened except I feel that we have similar minds but different philosophies about teaching styles.

I am one of the few who dislikes the "teacher friend". The teachers who act as your friend whether it be listening to your problems outside of the classroom or by gossiping along with you. I love a good friendly teacher, but there are lines that will not be crossed by a friendly teacher that a "teacher friend" can blur. I am here to say that I let it go. All of it. But I think that between the two of us since we are both people who enjoy understanding behavior we should have figured it out better. I am actually quite grateful for the crazy experience you gave me, it led me to become a more introspective person. I have changed since your class. Many things about me have changed - I tend to overthink a lot, but I am able to listen to things much better. I use reason a little more than I did before, and I do not trust everything and everything. So for that I'd say at the end of the day, you are a good teacher. But teaching is like one size fits all clothing, sometimes, it does not work on all.

High school, as you may have said at one point, is a giant bubble. We live in these sheltered institutions that, even if at worst, you should ideally be able to rise above it all from high school. I'd like to say that my bubble burst; it wasn't the worst since to some degree I was prepped for an after high school life. Being in the magnetized world of high school, every problem feels like the end of the world so everything that I feel happened was because of my lack of experience and your inability to apply your teachings to yourself. Now, I am not saying that you do not apply all teachings just a few you may forget along the way.

I will always look up to you for some many things, but one of them will not be your interpersonal communication, especially with students. I learned a lot from your class, not just the subject matter, but about myself and other people.

Thank you for everything,

A student who (still) constantly surprises you