Now, I’m not really sure how to say all of this but here I go, anyway.

The first and most important thing I need to say is thank you. I need and want to say this to you, today, because you did a lot for me -- some of which you know about, and some of which you don’t. Though you came into my life later in my high school career, you are the ones who stuck with me even after graduation.

I can’t count on one hand how many times I came to you with moments I needed support the most. I can clearly remember times I came to you crying and you opened your arms up to me. As rough times came, I knew I could come to you, or sit in your room just to help me calm down. There were many late nights and early mornings that all my worries would be spoken, and you walked me through them. I’m not sure if you knew or not, but there were many times that just walking into your room made my day a little better. Not only did you do a lot for me, personally, you also helped me in the classroom in so many ways. I have become a better writer, reader and actress because of the things you taught and continue to teach me.

I honestly think that I became a better person with you in my life. Not only did you get me through tougher moments, you gave me a lot of support in the things that I wanted to do. A lot of the time you would say something along the lines of, “Don’t let anything get in the way of what you want” or “You need to do what makes you happy.” These things are what got me through a lot of tough decisions and my current day to day life.

To this day, when I look back on high school I think about all of the memories that I had and how many you were a part of. How many bad things turned into good, because I left laughing, or crying happy tears. Everyone has role models in their life and for me you would have to be two of them. After I graduated, I wasn’t sure how involved you were going to stay with me, but I can say a year later that you haven’t given up on me. I’m thankful that I was given the chance to work with you, grow with you, and become friends with you.

So once again, I say thank you. For your support through high school and, now, for advice, for being there for me, for being an amazing teacher, for being a role model and for helping me grow into the person I wanted to be. I can’t express how much you have affected my life, and this is just the simple way of telling it to you.

With all my heart -- thank you!