There are many stories of students thanking one specific teacher that inspired them or helped them, but I have been blessed to have had so many incredible teachers that inspired me through the years. As you grow up and make your way through school you also make your way through struggles and challenges. You face adversities and you sometimes want to give up. It seems as though every time I faced that in school, a special teacher was placed with me too.

The first teacher I remember having a profound impact on my life was my third-grade teacher. That is when I started to find some things in school more difficult than my peers and she was always there to help me. I was also in musicals at this time and it turned out that my teacher and I auditioned for the same musical and were both casted. I saw this teacher every night at rehearsals and it was the first time I realized that teachers were real people.

Another teacher who impacted me was my fourth-grade teacher, she is the worlds sweetest person and is still a close family friend. I was so blessed to have her. Drama, bullying, and silly girl drama started this year and this teacher was always there to hear everyone's side and she taught me the power of simply listening. This teacher taught me patience, kindness, and so much more and is definitely a role model for the teacher I want to be.

The next teacher who impacted me was a high school English teacher. This teacher was a younger teacher, and similarly to my fourth grade teacher was one of the most kind and patient people I have yet to meet. High school was a rough time for me - academically and socially. Although I never talked to this teacher about anything outside of English I feel like she knew I was struggling through high school. I remember crying many times in front of her over projects and me just not understanding what we were learning. She took the time to break things down for me and explain them to me in a way that made sense for me. She taught me through her actions that it is okay to learn things differently or slower than others. This teacher left a giant impact on me and also showed me the type of teacher I hope to be through her actions.

Not every teacher we have we like or see to eye with, but they have impacted me just as much as the teachers enjoyed. Through teachers who I disagreed with I learned things that I didn't want to do and I learned attitudes that I don't want to have in front of my students. To them, I am just as grateful, just in a different way.

I hope that one day I can positively impact the lives of my students like these teachers did for me.