Even though I've been graduated for over a year, I still think of the lessons you taught me throughout my senior year. They've followed me into college and they've changed my perspectives on life. I've had many great teachers in my academic career, and many of them had also taught me great things. However, I've found that your influence has affected my everyday life in ways that no other teacher of mine ever has.
I'd like to thank you for that.
I know other students looked down on you. They took you as someone who didn't know what she was doing; as someone who shouldn't be allowed to teach because your methods didn't resemble those of everyone else. We don't like change, especially as young, nasty teenagers. Being in your class made us change our thinking and our mindsets, and not everyone respected that.
I can't lie. I had the same opinions after my first week in your class. You were eccentric and unpredictable. You worked through each problem as if it was your first time seeing it. It took longer than other teachers for you to reach the conclusion. It wasn't until a few months in where I got to know you that this was because of your best intentions.
You worked through the problems with us to get a real understanding of the material you were working with. Most teachers simply follow the answer booklet's explanations and see that it makes sense. You decided to go through it with your students. You put yourself in our position and you went through what we would have to go through.
It wasn't that you didn't know what you were doing, it was that you were being considerate and honest with us. You understood that schoolwork is frustrating and you understood that it's not as simple as many teachers treat it as.
When we questioned your responses of "I don't know", "I'll have to look that up later", and "I'm not sure what happened here", you told us you would never talk out of your ass to us. You told us how many teachers will disservice us by speaking about things they don't actually know for the sake of feeling superior and being seen as smarter than they are. However, you valued the truth and you stayed humble.
You're personality is unique to say the least. I enjoyed going to your class despite it being my least favorite subject. I know that sounds cliche, but I can't express this enough. Your jokes, your quirks, your sarcastic, sassy comments; they all made even the worst times a good time.
You were patient with me and you didn't see me as any less of a person because of my struggles. When I opened up to you, you showed me the kind of love and support I would get from my family. You took it upon yourself to be there for me even when it wasn't related to school or your job. I can't thank you enough.
Looking back, the most essential life lessons I've learned from any teacher have come from you. Living a life as you have shown me to has made me a more honest, humble, and joyful person. It has helped me find true friends and it has helped me become a person I am proud to be.
Much love,
Bella
