I would like to start off by saying I am grateful for all of the teachers/mentors that I have had throughout my life. You have all shaped me into the person I am today and there is not a single teacher I will ever forget. Although, my English teachers in high school are the main focus for today.
I attended Fairview High School and graduated in the Spring of 2015. I am currently a sophomore attending Austin Peay State University and my major is English. I am sure you had your suspicions? I can, without a doubt, say that if it wasn't for the English teachers I had in high school, that I would not be enjoying college and finding a career path that suits me best. So, in light of that, I would like to write a letter to each of my high school teachers:
Freshman Year
Dear Mr. Myers,
Thank you for your enthusiasm in and outside of the class. I wish more people were like you. The energy you bring to life itself everyday is a wonderful thing. Your energy kept me going, even though I had your class seventh period. I would like to thank you for making us read The Odyssey because I am currently reading the full text in my 2030 English class. The trial we did was one of the best ideas I have ever been apart of. It's pretty ironic that I was the prosecuting attorney for that trial and I plan on going to law school in the future. Thank you for getting me out of my comfort zone by making me do a presentation in front of our class. People throughout my college career continue to tell me that I am a great public speaker and you have definitely helped me with that. One of my biggest thank yous goes to you for being the first teacher to show me how to write a proper paper. I have written so many papers in the last year that without your guidance I would have been lost. Please continue to be the positive and encouraging teacher you were freshman year. I hope you and your family are doing well.
Your former student,
Ariel
Sophomore Year
Dear Mr. Penner,
We may live next door, but because I'm in college I do not see you that much. Thank you for being a great neighbor and teacher. Thank you for making me do multiple presentations in front of the class. I think everyone learned a lot about aliens that day. Thank you for helping me with my writing and helping me find my voice. Thank you for letting me analyze a song from my favorite artist. Thank you for not getting too mad when I had to leave early for bowling matches. Thank you for wearing what I call "Jimmy Buffet shirts" because they make me think of pretty beaches. Thank you for inviting me to play at your church retreat, even though I couldn't make it. Thank you for quizzing us over the reading, so we would actually read it. Thank you for making assignments that made think about things that are really happening in our world. I hope your new job is just as fun as Fairview. I wish you the best. Thank your for everything!
Your former student,
Ariel
Junior Year
Dear Mrs. DiCiaula,
Wow, I miss you. I was super nervous junior year about taking an A.P. class. I was not sure what to expect. Thank you for challenging me to be a better student and a better writer. The amount of time you spent on grading our papers, packets, and tests really shows how dedicated you are to making your students succeed. I would like to thank you for making us read novels that as a 16-year-old, I would not have read voluntarily. Those stories really opened my eyes to realizing sometimes the books you aren't as excited about, can impact you. Plus, I found out some of those books are stories I became interested in. Although, I am sorry to say I still cannot jump on that bandwagon for Walden. Thank you for making us read The Crucible! That was one of my favorite times in your class. I can still hear Colton McClure doing the voice of Giles. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to beat my opponent on my speech about animal testing. I am curious to see that video from that day. I wish I still had early morning class with you because you are one of the few teachers I have had that understand that music in the morning is essential. Thank you for reading my essays and giving me some of the hardest vocabulary quizzes I've ever experienced. Please continue to challenge students and make them see that expanding your vocabulary and reading lists is good for the soul.
Your former student,
Ariel
Senior Year
Dear Mrs. McGaha,
I am going to need you to come to Austin Peay because I need your sarcasm back in my life. Thank you for the tough love in our class. It really whipped me into shape and I was working harder on my school work. Thank you for making us analyze everything I read because I am doing that a lot in college. Thank you for making us read A Prayer For Owen Meany. That book is so deep and has so much to it, that without your insight, I wouldn't think that far into the novels I'm reading now. Thank you for pushing me to speak up about what I have to say, even if it was just in the seminar. Thank you for seminars!!! I honestly wish we had seminars in my classes.
All I want to do is talk about the novels and short stories we are reading. I miss hearing about your daughter's volleyball tournaments and how our entire class was so supportive. Thank you for the funny videos we watched for vocabulary because they really did help. Thank you for supporting me when I said I wanted to teach, even though that has changed now. I miss our class, the discussions we had, and the laughs that could be heard down the hall. You were always encouraging us and I hope your students are as grateful to have known you like I am.
Your former student,
Ariel
Thank you all for everything! I hope to visit with you all in the future!
