Do you remember that one teacher who always made you look forward to going to class? Were you in elementary school, or were you a little older than that…maybe high school or even college? Our teachers dedicate their lives to helping us students grow and become independent, freethinking individuals; some teachers leave behind such a tremendous impact that even the little things start to remind us of them.
With the holidays around the corner, I wanted to remember all of these extraordinary people, who continue to inspire me at every stage. As an expression of my gratitude, I thought it would be interesting to narrate below a *minimally edited* letter that I never sent my 7th grade science teacher. It goes like this:
“Dear ________,
This Thanksgiving, I would like you to know how grateful I am for you and your encouragement throughout these years, from middle school all the way to the beginning of high school. I never understood the value of true generosity until I first met you as a nervous sixth grader and had the honor of sharing several more years with you in your science classroom, learning human anatomy and attending legendary math and science team competitions. Every step of the way, you were there to guide and motivate me, selflessly giving up your own time. I will never forget the project you helped me with in seventh grade; we had to keep recording the audio for the video without a break because of the chaos in every setting we tried to film in! I will constantly cherish this memory with you, and I hope to make many more in the coming years. I want you to know that nothing is comparable to how special you are and how much you inspire me. Thank you so much.
Love,
Sarayu”
Some might call it a little sappy and somewhat incoherent, but, putting aside the fact that I was an inexperienced letter writer at the time this was drafted, expressing appreciation so openly was, and still is, a habit I’m not so familiar with. We often neglect the profound meaning unfiltered communication of appreciation can have, whether it be to a teacher or to your own family or friends. Looking back at this letter motivates me to step out of my comfort zone and recognize my teachers and the value they hold; without them, as cliché as it may sound, I wouldn’t be the student and individual I am today.
So, to all teachers, thank you.