High school was never a time in my life that I throughly enjoyed in the first place, but what really got me was when a teacher of mine told me I didn't deserve to graduate. The man told me this when he knew that I had an IEP (Individual Education Plan) and I was in his remedial class. I mean, I'm not even embarrassed to have an IEP or be in a remedial classes. I thought it was suppose to help, yet not so much. Thank you for not believing in me; I am in a better place now because of it.

To the Teacher Who Didn't Believe In Me,

First off, this feels great to get off my chest. I had your class three years ago and it seems just like yesterday. I feel as though the assignments didn't do much to improve my reading comprehension like it was suppose to. Wasn't I in your remedial class for a reason? I was in there to better my reading skills since my learning disability is in reading comprehension.

You knew about my learning disability and how I wanted to better myself with the help of your class. You always said the reading material was easy, but to me, it wasn't. I was the quiet girl that rarely said that I didn't understand something in class, but for whatever reason during that class, I told you I didn't understand a story we were reading. Let it be known, I wish I hadn't spoken up.

After admitting that I didn't understand the story along with a few other classmates, you told me to my face that I did not deserve to graduate high school. I did not deserve to graduate high school because I did not understand something we read in class? In one class period? How does that determine if I should walk across that stage and receive a diploma? But more importantly, how could someone ever say that to a student? Especially a student with a learning disability in the remedial class.

It just hurts. It hurts to think that you thought I was not trying and wanting to take the easy way out. I wasn't taking the easy way out as much as want to think I was. I was trying my hardest, which obviously wasn't enough for you.

But man, I guess I should thank you now. Days after finishing your class, I successfully graduated high school with honors. I went off into the big world and headed to college. I am now a sophomore at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. I am majoring in Marketing and sucessfully passing each and everyone of my classes. I am a part of several campus activities and I take pride in being the Student Senate President. Life could not be any more perfect, no matter what you said to me three years ago.

Again, thank you for not believing in me; this lead me to challenge myself and boy, have I succeeded.

Sincerely,

Madam President