When I was a high school senior I couldn’t wait to exit my high school's doors and never look back. I was tired of our school colors, long days, and courses I felt had no real meaning in my life. I sat and dreamt aimlessly of the days when I could plan the times I wanted to have class, live away from home, and take courses I felt pertained to what I wanted to do in life. A funny thing happened when I got to college, however: I missed it all. Most importantly, I missed the teachers who inspired me to follow my passions, even if those dreams didn’t line up with their classes.

In high school teachers knew you by name. Teachers were there as more than just a teacher; they were someone there to help you grow into the best individual you can be. Your life genuinely mattered to them because you were a part of such a tight-knit community determined to help all of its students succeed. Your face was more than just one of many in a lecture hall. You didn’t need office hours to stop by during your lunch and ask a question about an upcoming test. Emails didn’t take a million years to receive a response to, but were instant and always personable. In high school, your teachers are there to do more than spit out information, but also ensure you understand why it all matters.

Sure, you didn’t like every course or every teacher, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t take away something important from those classes. I know that math will never be my thing, but I’ll always be grateful for my lesson on tipping properly I learned in algebra. P.E. never had a dramatic impact on my life, but I conquered my fear and climbed the rock wall, with all my friends cheering me on, and that's a memory I will cherish. I’ll never be a Carnegie Hall singer, but the laughs and joy I felt when singing in the choir room hold far greater importance in the long run. The life conversations had in our advisory period is priceless advice you can’t just pay for. I would never have my favorite book if it weren’t for my English teachers that constantly threw new things at us to read and be challenged by. I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this article if it weren’t for all those face-to-face revision sessions I had with my teachers who helped me become a better and more confident writer. I wouldn’t be the strong and confident woman I am today without the inspirational faculty helping me through in high school.

Even though college is a jam, I find myself really missing the days where I sat at a too-small desk in my high school. I look forward to those visits back to my alma mater on breaks, and the friendly Facebook messages my high school teachers send me telling me they’re proud of all I am accomplishing. It’s funny, though, because I know that I would not be where I am at today without those high school teachers who always take the time to learn your name.