To My Very First Students on the Last Day of School,

Thank you for everything you have taught me this past year. Thank you for saying “it’s ok” when I got your name wrong the first week of class. Thank you for laughing with me when I could not find the crayons or the paper. Thank you for explaining how to use the pencil sharpener, which was unlike anything I had seen before. Thank you for telling me I was doing a good job and for believing in me.

This past year has been the best year because you were a part of it. When i walked into the classroom on my first day I had no idea that your little smiling faces would be forever etched into my memory. I had no idea how important you would be to me, and how hard it would be to say goodbye. I know that I will have a few of your siblings next year and I know they will be just as amazing and smart as you are. I have loved being able to care for you, hug you, wipe away your tears, help you up when you fall, and teach you everything you need to know to be successful 1st graders next year. I have watched you to grow, mature, make mistakes, fix mistakes, make friends, and learn how to be better people.

Thank you for showing me what it looks like to be an honorable teacher. A teacher who never yells at her students, one that always uses kind words, has a smile on her face and wants what is best for her students. Thank you for showing me what true kindness is and how to show love equally to a class of 20 students. I know that you will go far and I cannot wait for you to grow into the strong adults I can already see you becoming. When you left on Friday, you took a piece of my heart with you. I will miss you and our conversations about how we can help to protect each other's hearts by using kind words. I will miss your gentle spirit and the love you had for each of your classmates.

Some of you will move on to find that the world is not always the kindest to you. I pray you will have the strength to rise above all of your obstacles and never let anyone bring you down. I have heard you say that some people have called you a “bad kid” but we both know that is not true, and we have spent the past year proving what an amazing student you are. Do not let anyone make you think you are something that you are not. You have forever changed the way I will look at my future students. Whenever I see one that is acting out, I will think of you and see the beautiful child that they are. Never tell yourself you are not enough, because I already know you are.

As you enter your first year of 1st grade and the rest of your schooling career. Know that each of your names is written on my heart and that I will be cheering you on. I will always believe in the person you can become, and I can only hope that I have helped you to believe in yourselves. You have it in you to change the world, and I cannot wait until you do. Whether you become a doctor and save a life, become a social worker and help a family in need, or become a teacher and change the life of a child. I can only hope that the values we worked on this year of caring for one another, helping others, and being independent follow you throughout your entire lives. I love you all and I know you already know that.

I believe in you all,

Miss Ali

(Your Teacher)