I’m sure you may come across this when we become friends on Facebook after I graduate college (or you may not). Either way, I thought it was fitting to write this. To the professor who has changed my life, you may know who you are or you may not, I would like to say thank you.
As far as professors go, you are truly one of the greatest. I’ve had quite a few experiences with other professors where their credibility was questioned, but never with you. You genuinely care for your students and want them to succeed. You treated me like young adult, not like a 20-something-year-old student. You saw the potential I had, pushed me, encouraged me, mentored me, polished me up, until you could take a step back two years later, dust off your hands and tell me I’ve made it.
The first piece of advice you handed down to me was during my sophomore year in an introduction to public relations course, stating, “Fake it till you make it.” Right before, you took me aside and said I have potential to be a great PR person, and that I already had the people skills and I knew how to write. You told me I just needed to focus, apply myself, be myself and don’t worry about anything else. I was new to the school and the course of study and seriously took that to heart. I pushed my insecurities to the side and grabbed the metaphorical bull by the horns. I looked up to you because you were honest with me, and I wanted to prove you right in every way. I took any and every opportunity, befriended handfuls of individuals and made a name for myself on campus. After that course, you recommended I take a 400-level senior public relations methods course as a sophomore, and encouraged me to give it my all.
Since then I’ve come to view you as a mentor. Without your initial guidance, where would I be today? I’m sure I’d be somewhere close to where I am right now, but seriously lacking a confidant. Similar to my parents, you told me I had what it takes to be great, to succeed in anything I put my mind to. What differed was that you were a complete stranger, yet saw my abilities and knew I needed an extra push. By working toward proving you right, I was proving to myself that I had the skills you saw in me all along. Throughout my time studying communications, you taught me how to use my natural skills to my advantage, and because of that, I was able to help start and officiate a campus club, be elected as president and fulfill even more personal goals I never knew I had.
When I look back on my years of higher education, only the great teachers and professors stand out. The ones who questioned my line of thinking in a debate, who played devil's advocate to spark deeper analysis, who encouraged me to take a leap of faith, who criticized every piece of written work I created only to teach me a greater lesson in the end and most importantly, who saw my potential and took me under their wing. If I did poorly on an exam, you were honest with me and gave valid feedback. If I missed the objective of a project you explained it to me further for future reference. If I was struggling in another communications course, you sat with me and talked about the issues until some sort of resolution was found. We established a level of trust that I can’t say I have with many professors.
In my opinion, due to common stereotypes of being strict or unforgiving, professors don’t always get the recognition they deserve. Seldom do we hear about the professors who leave a positive mark on your college journey--the professors who lead by example and take in that they see need the extra guidance. Those are the professors that no one ever hears about, but are truly diamonds in the rough. They are your cheerleaders, always cheering you on. They have an open door policy and will talk with you about anything. They notice when you’re having an off day and take it upon them to ask if you’re all right after class. Those are the professors worth mentioning when looking back on college. Those are the professors who change your life.
It’s important to recognize those who have helped you on any journey in life, but especially those who have remained by your side with an unwavering confidence. The people who recognize greatness, and take it upon themselves to nurture you until you recognize it for yourself. The people who believe you have what it takes to reach the next level of success. I tried to explain all that you have done for me in my time at Penn State Harrisburg and I hope I have done it justice. You are hands down the greatest professor I have had the privilege of knowing and learning from. Thank you for being my mentor, and seeing my potential way before I ever did.
Thank you,
Your favorite student
