Dear Teacher,

I cannot actually put into words, and not just because I am horrid at English, just how much you mean to me and how thankful I am for all that you have done for me. There are no words, in any language, which can carry the magnitude that I need them to for you. But, I am going to make an amateur attempt.

Thank you for standing by my side. Thank you for believing me. Thank you for the times when you just asked because you saw the look on my face. Thank you for forgiving me when I was wrong. Thank you for not just passing me along. Thank you for teaching me to believe in myself. Thank you for being a friend. Thank you for being a mom.

You taught me more than science and health and reading. You taught me how to be a person. You taught me how to treat others with respect and expect respect for myself. You taught me that I did not need to change who I am to be accepted. You instilled in me the lesson of finding a true friend is like finding a needle in a haystack. Thank you for teaching me patience. You taught me to surround myself with those who enjoy my presence and for all the uniqueness that comes with it.

There was a book our reading class read when I was in the 7^th grade, "Flowers for Algernon." This book remains to this day my favorite and was one of the school reading books I have ever actually read. There was a quote from this book that was supposed to lay within the pages of my senior yearbook, but I was told it was too long. I am going to leave it for you here: “The answer can’t be found in books—or be solved by taking it to other people. Not unless you want to remain a child all your life. You’ve got to find the answer inside you—feel the right thing to do. Charlie, you’ve got to learn to trust yourself.” This is the biggest and most important thing you have taught me, to trust myself. Thanks to you I am where I am, I see life the way I do.

Again, these words cannot carry the magnitude I hold for you, but I hope they did a good job of scratching the surface. I want to leave you one message—I love you and the world is a better place because you are in it.

Love always,

Your Student