Spring break has now come and gone and for some of us, graduation is quickly coming. Feelings are bittersweet; I'm excited to go out into the real world but I'm also scared about being on my own. I won't have mentors that I can turn to or email at any time of the day, which is something that I've never had to deal with. Since I can remember, I've had teachers and professors that I saw and talked to almost every day. Along with my parents, these teachers have been role models for me and have shaped me into who I am.

Thank you.

From elementary school up until college, I have had professors that have pushed me to try my hardest and taught me life lessons. Whether it be their comments on my papers or making me stay after for department night because I wasn't doing too well in class or even just saying "how are you?" in the hallways, it has all helped me become me.

Now that I'm a little older, I realize how hard teachers work (not that I didn't notice before). I've noticed how hard it is for teachers to try and be a good teacher while developing connections with their students. Students, especially in high school, tend to push teachers away as they go through personal troubles but luckily, I had teachers who broke down those walls and helped me get through those tough times.

Thank you to those teachers that made classes hard and didn't take laziness as an excuse or let me slide by. You made me learn and yes, even though that's the point of school, many students don't remember the things they "learned" in school. But because of your teaching ways, the way you made it interesting but difficult, I still remember the things I worked to know.

Thank you to my teachers who have made connections outside of school and taught me life lessons. The ones who took me on field trips that would actually help me in my life.

Please keep being the wonderful teachers that you are. Because although I may just be one person, I know that there are others that feel the same.

Thank you.