Shout Out to my Past Teachers

Tomorrow, it all begins.  I'm starting my career!  No longer do I need to look to the future for what I want to do, only for who I want to become.  It's a surreal feeling.

I would be incredibly ungrateful if I neglected to thank all my past teachers for giving me the best example possible of what it means to care about each student.  They are who I want to become.  I really did have some of the best teachers and mentors around.

Mrs. Craig and I, 3rd grade

From my days at Thorner with Ms. Beagle, Ms. Mayer, Mrs. VanWagoner, Mrs. Craig, Ms. Davenport (Schneider), Ms. Guzman, and Ms. Haggerty, I was taught how to treat others with respect and to not be content with mediocracy.

Mr. Fulenwider, 7th grade math

Mr. Stone, junior high band

Then I went on to Chipman where I learned from Mrs. Piper, Mr. Stone, Mr. Fulenwider, and Mrs. Edwards, among others, who taught me the finer points of being academically disciplined and exploring my emerging talents and interests.  I experienced even more growth at Highland with Ms. Snyder (Montanio), Sr. Davis, Sr. Mayberry, Mrs. Crosby, Mr. Boyle, Mrs. Press, Mrs. Jensen, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Rappleye, and Mrs. Ernst.  They mentored me through some of the most emotionally difficult years I have ever experienced and taught me to believe in myself when everything else seemed to be caving in.

Mr. Boyle and I, my music teacher for 4 years at Highland

Mrs. Ernst and I, 12th grade English

As I look at these wonderful examples in my life, I want to simply know one thing...How did you do it?  I never could have imagined just how much work goes into being a teacher, and I haven't even met my kids yet!  If I can be half as good as you, I will feel successful.  Thank you for being teachers.  Thank you for dedicating so many more hours than you get credit for to preparing kids like me.  There's a quote from one of my favorite books, Tuesdays With Morrie, that says, "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."  Your influence is still going on!

For those of you that I've lost touch with, I hope this can reconnect us.  I can't thank you enough for being the teachers you were/are.  I'm humbled to be able to call you my colleagues now.  Any and all pieces of advice/encouragement you have to offer would be greatly appreciated.  :)