Dear former teacher,

I want to start off by thanking you for being a great teacher. You have impacted my life in many ways. You helped me through so much, and I cannot even explain the gratitude and respect I have for you.

I am extremely grateful for everything you have done for me while I was your student. I may not have been the best or the most outgoing, but I knew what was expected of me. Throughout my time with you, I began to grow in many ways. I became passionate about school, especially your subject. I enjoyed coming to school because there was someone there who cared about me and what was going on in my life. I honestly think you became one of my friends throughout the course of the year.

I have had teachers who just taught the subject they were teaching, and that was it, however, you made your class so interesting, and it made me excited to learn new topics and explore your subject more. You have inspired me to pursue what I enjoy learning about.

You put up with me being either way too quiet or way too talkative. I participated in many shenanigans throughout our time together, yet you never got angry at me. I know I am not the perfect student, but I think we both learned from each other because of my shenanigans.

You believed in me when I failed to believe in myself. You were cheering for me when you knew I needed it. You listened to me when I needed to vent about whatever was going on in my life. You answered all my silly questions, and most of them were silly on purpose. You were straightforward with me and told me when I was being too dramatic. You were there for me more than I realized at the time. I never realized how much until I had to move on from your class.

I know I can come back to visit, which I do on occasion, but it is not the same as being there every day talking to you. I enjoy coming to visit or catching you in a store (it's still weird to think teachers go other places other than school) because I know you can see how much I have grown since the last time we spoke. I see a little bit of you within myself whenever I am out in the world talking to people.

Thank you for everything you have done for me. I know it was not always easy putting up with me, especially when I just wanted to be home sleeping, but you managed to get me motivated to learn and want to be there every day. I hope that I am making you proud and showing you what a great job you have done. You have touched my life, and I am forever grateful I had the opportunity to be in your class. You are truly amazing—never forget that.

Love,

Your former student