With the start of school just around the corner, I decided to take the time to write a letter to one of my high school teachers. As I have grown, I have begun to realize that the lessons he taught were above and beyond what he was contracted to do.

Dr. Mr L.

I gave you a real run for your money, but no matter what I did you didn't blink.

Your teaching style was considered unusual. I still remember having my name randomly called during the middle of your lecture. The expectation being that I would repeat the last word you said...that I would prove I was paying attention.

When I shouted out my name as the last word you uttered, you didn't find my response funny. You didn't give me an in. You were the only teacher to notice some of the pain I hid with my humor. You offered to talk to me if I ever wanted to share. You noticed all the things I was trying so hard to hide.

You stressed the gift I had for the written word and encouraged me to apply myself more. You urged me to take typing, something I am truly grateful for. You encourage me to write down what I was feeling. To blog before blogging was even thought of.

You made me repeat things daily like, "I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street I met a man who had no feet." When I was a teenager, I thought you were crazy. Now I get it. Now I understand.

How hard it must have been for you to hope that one day some of us would "get" it.

Thank you for being a royal pain in my ass. I realize now that it is only because you cared.

You encouraged all of us to take our good, to make it better but not to settle until it was our best.

I am honored to have called you my teacher.

~kisa~

Take time today to thank all the teachers in your life.