It most certainly does not feel like it has been six years ago that I found a passion to write. Some adults told me I should become an English teacher, and I thought they were crazy. Then there was people like my great aunt Ellen who told me I should become a writer. To be honest I never put a whole lot of thought into that suggestion.

One memory I vividly remember is sitting three rows back listening to the House that built me by Miranda Lambert. I sat working on my poetry anthology that I still have to this day. My English teacher at the time Mrs. Roberto was telling us that the next five or so years of our life would go by in a blink of an eye. She was absolutely right, I would do anything to go back to that day in her classroom. She made me fall in love with two things the first was Miranda Lamberts music and the second is a passion to write. She gave me a passion I never grew out of and something that no one can ever take away from me.

A year goes by and it is a new school year, new challenges and teachers. I was truly blessed to have another English teacher to pass his wisdom on to my young mind. He showed me the works of so many great poets one of my favorites being Edgar Allen Poe. A famous quote from The Raven “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?" This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" — Merely this, and nothing more” it was quotes like these that made class interesting. It was your passion for teaching fourteen years old the importance of poetry in today's society.

Fast forward four years I am sitting fifth row at my high school graduation. In the hour I spent sitting waiting for my name to be called I reflected on the past few years. I saw the faces of my seventh and eighth grade English teachers that had made a huge impact on my writing. As I took my first few steps toward the stage I held back a stream of tears. I saw what seemed to be every teacher I ever had standing behind my superintendent as I took my diapolma; I turned my back to walk away from the people that have helped me suceed. Mrs. Roberto was right I blinked for a minute and it was like these past few years were gone.

I truly was blessed to have such wonderful educators in my life. To my middle school English teachers you both have given me such wonderful knowledge. Knowledge I use everyday of my life as I continue to advance my education and writing. You both have given me a precious gift. That gift is NOT simply a piece of paper and a pen but teaching me how to create a beautiful story between the lines.

Sincerely,

A very grateful former student