Hey guys, I know it has been a really long time since I have shared anything with y'all. I have been trying to take in all that this semester has been giving me that includes the good, the bad, and the really ugly moments. This semester for two of my classes I have had the opportunity to spend time in a 5th grade classroom. I have had the ability to teach and interact with some of the students as well as my amazing teacher. I was sitting in her class one day thinking back to my elementary school days and all the memories came flooding back. I also sat there and started to reminisce on the teachers I have had and the ways that they poured into me throughout my academic career. In that moment, I then decided that I it was only fitting to make my next article about all the teachers who have not only poured into me but fought for me.

Dear Ms. DeMauro (now Mrs. Bullis),

As I sit in this 5th grade classroom right now, I want to start by thanking you. Thank you for always being so gentle and having the patience to deal with my wild ADHD self. I only remember bits and pieces of the content you taught me, however I remember the many life lessons very vividly. I remember you teaching us basic sign language. I still to this day remember the entire alphabet and a few of the most common signs. To this day, I still think of 5th grade as my favorite year in school and a lot of this has to do with the fact that you where my teacher. I remember bonding with you unlike any other teacher I have had before. I believe that it had to do with the fact that you where a TA in my fourth grade class and we had the opportunity to connect and bond over the two years that we spent together. If there was one thing I remember most about those two years was how you would always check in with me. I remember my desk being right next to yours, I know it was put their because I had preferential seating. However, I know that I liked it close to you anyway, allowing me easy access to ask you questions and talk to you. All of this being said, Ms. DeMauro I want you to know that I am thankful for you and you are one of the many reasons that I want to become a teacher. I want to connect with my students the way you connected and loved on me the two years we spent together. I want my students to be able to trust me and feel safe enough to come to me with anything, like you allowed your students to. I personally have no idea if you are still teaching, but if you are I know all of those students are lucky to have you as their teacher.

Sincerely,

Ben

Dear Mrs. Stastny,

There are so many things I could say, so many crazy and silly stories I could tell. But, I am going to start off with this one I remember taking a vocabulary test freshman year of high school. I remember getting that test back and realizing that I got a 23 and I remember being mad at you for some stupid reason. I still to this day look at that moment as one of the lowest moments in my academic career. I know you saw the look on my face of pure disgust and angst. I think back to that test and how you took me in and worked with me that first semester of high school. I remember failing other classes, but not yours. I remember you telling me I can do it and to not give up, because I am smarter than I think I am. Those words and those actions, Mrs. Stastny made me an un-confident high-schooler feel a sense of drive and purpose. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart. The reason that I took 3 years of classes with you was because I knew I felt safe enough to express myself in your classroom and for that I can't thank you enough. I know that it was in your classroom where I felt safe enough to find my voice through the art of writing. I am thankful for this gift that you encouraged me to purse, even to this day! I want you to know that I will encourage the idea of self-discovery in my future classroom and I have you to thank for making me believe in this so much. I know you are still teaching and I know that you are still fighting for each student and pushing them to be their very best. I know this was super short, however finding the right words to say to you was very difficult. It was difficult because you have not only impacted my academic and future teaching career, but my personal one as well. Thank you for everything you have done for me and will do for me in the future.

Sincerely,

Ben

Dear Mrs. Cole,

Just like Mrs. Stastny there are so many things I could say and a thank you won't cover it all. I may have never felt like I had a content area class with you, however you made me feel like I did! When I think of my early years of high school, you were the friend I needed when I had none. You were also my voice of reason when I told you I was going to do something very stupid. You listened to me and gave me advice, some of it I didn't want to hear. Your patience and your ability to tell me everything I didn't want to hear, helped me become a stronger student. I know that the three and a half years you spent pouring into me where for a reason and a purpose. You wanted me to feel loved and valued. I never told you this,but there where many days when I was told by others that I was worthless. I would walk into your room and you had the ability to cheer me up and inform me I was valued. You where the person I would go talk to when I wanted to get something off my chest, mainly problems with teachers and 'friends'. Also you fought for me, when I believed a teacher was being unfair and not accommodating my needs, you where there to stand up and fight for me. You believed in me and my abilities so much that neither one of us saw what was happening. Neither one of us realized that you where teaching me how to be an amazing SPED teacher. I'm not sure you know this but I want to be a SPED teacher. I don't want to have my own classroom, instead I want to work one on one with students. I want you to know that the ways in which you worked with me and fought for me are going to be the same ways that I will fight and work with my students. I want you to know that I will forever be thankful for how much of a friend and teacher you where to me during my high school years. You know I struggled through high school and having you there as a constant was something that I cherished very much, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know you are still pouring into other students and they are very lucky to have you as their teacher!

Sincerely,

Ben