With graduation pictures surfacing left and right, I could not help but reflect upon my high school days. When thinking, or reminiscing, about high school, we often think about the memories we shared with our friends. Those moments, and who we shared them with, may have largely affected who we are now. However, we often overlook our teachers and their impact. We forget about who had to teach us difficult subject matter, whilst simultaneously acting as collateral damage from our teenage angst.

Dear respected teachers,

Thank you. Thank you for teaching me how to conduct a hypothesis test, how to analyze texts and sources, how to convert measurements, as well as how to use parallel structure and polysyndeton in my writing. These academic skills are truly invaluable. However, it was the lessons given, perhaps unintentionally, in-between classes that affected me the most.

Although we have been instructed to avoid clichés like the plague, I have to thank you for teaching me that “timing is everything.” Like acquiring maximum number of likes on an Instagram post, making the perfect cup of tea or obtaining someone’s help, good timing is essential for success. We quickly learned that the best time to do, say or ask for something is after you have had your caffeine fix(es).

By occasionally saying “no," you taught us that even if planned and timed with military precision, things do not always turn out as we expect. Thus, we (over time) learned to accept failure with grace. Saying “no” also pushed us to explore other ways to get what we wanted and perhaps try again or to scrap the idea altogether. Your firm stances taught us to be strong. However, your constant willingness to help, even in non-academic situations, showed us that firmness and kindness were not mutually exclusive.
...However, we never complained when you said "yes."

Even when we were anxiously awaiting standardized test scores, and you were the ones who were handing back graded work, you taught us that our grades were a part of us, rather than a measure of our self-worth. We learned there was more to us. Although highly praised for our academic achievements, we were encouraged to also pursue success in other fields. You commended us for our awards in sports, student government, the arts and/or whatever else we did. Though you applauded our accomplishments, you never hesitated to help us improve. Thus, we learned to be confident, but not arrogant, in our abilities.

The confidence you instilled in us led to a confidence in our peers. As opposed to envying the successes of others, we learned to celebrate together. We clapped when we heard our friends' names in assembly, and we clapped even harder at graduation. Thank you for not only teaching us how to apply Pythagoras’ Theorem to our everyday lives, but for everything else as well.

With warm regards,
Your Appreciative Student