A school mom. I would like to believe that we have all had one before, whether it was a friend who made sure you didn't forget your homework or perhaps it was one of your teachers. Now, I'm not talking about that one time in fifth grade when you called your teacher "mom." I'm talking about that one teacher who was always there for you and was your mother away from home when you were getting an education. That teacher did more than just give you an education. She had your best interests in mind and provided a comfortable zone that made it fun for you to learn. For me, my eighth grade English teacher Mrs. D'Arco was and still is that person for me.

A few weeks ago, I visited my old high school to check up on my precious book club, though it would probably be best for me to explain its origins before continuing. When I was a sophomore in high school, my best friend and I reached out to our beloved Mrs. D'Arco in hopes of starting an actual club to discuss literature after school. We had loved her English class the year prior, and we simply wanted more and believed that others would as well. Mrs. D'Arco was enthusiastic from the start about our venture and she supported us even though it took quite a deal of time for the club to take off.

Many an afternoon I would sit in Mrs. D'Arco's classroom waiting for students to show up to meetings, but they never came. However, I am honestly grateful for those quiet afternoons — or perhaps not-so-quiet if I was the one talking. Mrs. D'Arco became my therapist who would listen to all of my struggles, both academic and personal. She never judged, nor did she ever seem to get bothered by my endless complaining and venting. She sat there and encouraged me, gave me advice and never failed to boost my spirits. The woman wasn't even my teacher anymore, yet she cared about my well-being and made high school in general a much more tolerable experience for me. I would not take back those Thursday afternoons for anything.

I should probably note that book club did become successful; it wasn't always a sad excuse for a club. More and more students joined throughout my junior and senior year, and the friends that I made and the fun we had made me look forward to going to school just to have our weekly meetings at 2 p.m. on Thursdays. We were just a bunch of nerdy kids who wore our royal blue book club t-shirts that had "read it and weep" across the back. We read a diverse range of books and got into deep discussions, all while eating the cookies that I baked the night before to attract new members every week. We stayed after school longer than most kids our age, but we didn't mind doing it as long as we were in Mrs. D'Arco's classroom with the perfectly adorned windowsill filled with plants; the walls decorated with students' projects galore. The club would have never made it if she had not believed in us.

I have to admit, I was afraid that book club might not last after I graduated. Without my lengthy, and I mean lengthy emails, gently reminding members about the meetings — OK maybe a bit more aggressive than that — I didn't think the club could make it. Thankfully, I was wrong. Book club is stronger than ever and my high school finally recognizes it as an official club after five long years. I may have started the club, but Mrs. D'Arco is why this club has thrived. No one has forced her to take time out of her personal life to oversee a club. No one has forced her to continue to sell the T-shirts that my mom and I ordered for the club all those years ago, and no one told her that she had to save all of the money from the shirt sales to return to us. She has done all of these things out of the goodness of her heart, which is a true testament to her character as an incredible human-being.

I got to share another Thursday afternoon with my school mom after the book club meeting finished during my visit. It did not feel like a single day had gone by since I had spoken to her last in the same setting and manner as when I was a high school student. She laughed at my continued hatred against the world and all those who inhabit it. She was thrilled to show off the growth of my footprint at the school, but in all honesty, it is just as much my legacy as it is hers. There would not be a book club today without her. There would never be a book club if she didn't care about her students as much as she does. The high school is luckier than it will ever know to have her and as all of her students can certainly agree, she is everyone's school mom.

So thank you, Mrs. D'Arco for all that you have done. Your continued support of me and the club means more than I can express in words. Never stop spreading the love of reading and never stop being you.