Usually when I mention the fact that I had a favorite high school teacher, my peers look at me like I’m crazy. But I’m not. High school was not my quote on quote “thriving time” in regards to many things. I was not the most athletic, most good-looking or most outgoing person at my school; but, I was confident, and that is due to my favorite high school teacher.

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Dear high-school-teacher-who-changed-my-life,

I would like to start out by saying thank you. Thank you for supporting my crazy dreams. Thank you for making the hell-ish hallways of high school even the slightest bit more bearable. Thank you for making me feel as though I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to, and most of all, thank you for helping me mold my high school self.

If it weren’t for you, I probably would not be where I am today. Correction: If it weren’t for you, I definitely would not be where I am today. You taught me how to push myself in the subjects that I found most difficult, and taught me how to accept defeat and become resilient.

Thank you for actually realizing how capable of a person I am and showing me how much better I could do, even if I thought I was at my best. You helped me to realize that there is always room for improvement, even when I thought I was “good enough.”

Thank you for helping me to see things realistically. You helped me shape my college decision, my opinions on social issues and

You may not know it, but you helped mold me into me. You made me confident at my lowest points. Each time I succeeded from that point on, you were always the first person I wanted to tell. If I got an A on the math test I was dreading, you were the first person I would tell. Each and every time I got accepted, or even rejected from one of the colleges I applied to, you were one of the first to know.

Thank you for helping me to see things realistically. You helped me shape my college decision, my opinions on social issues and even my friends.

Let me also throw in a quick thank you for writing me endless college recommendation letters.

Each and every day I think about how far I’ve come: graduating, leaving home, coming to my dream school, and landing my dream internship. Each and every day I wish I had one of my high school best friends to tell all about my new accomplishments, my new friends and my thoughts on world issues: I wish I had you here.

As bittersweet as it is, our parting time did come. I hope that you are now touching the lives of other kids at my old school just like me. I hope they give you a chance to impact them the way in which you impacted me. I hope they realize that you care.

You were one of my biggest blessings, and I am so grateful for that.

Sincerely,

Hopefully, the student that had an impact on you.