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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Tuesday Tribute: thank a teacher

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.

9 random thoughts:

DeepBlue said...

Teachers... the real and only heros of our society... along with mothers!
This is a wonderful letter! :)
Hugs
Jon

Anonymous said...

what a nice tribute....beautiful.

Pat said...

You need to tell HIM this. It would make his day. If he is not alive, I would send the letter to his family so they could know what a wonderful teacher their son/husband was.

I don't think teachers are told enough how great they are.

This was wonderful.

Jenners said...

I think you ought to track him down and share this with him!! I bet it would make his day!!!

Rebecca said...

I agree with what DeepBlue said teachers are the real heroes. beautiful letter

Kristie Maynard said...

What a beautiful letter. Makes me wonder if a couple of my teachers are still around and if I could write them a letter to thank them.
The video gave me goosebumps!
Thanks for sharing!

Samantha Mansfield said...

I hope a former student can say this about me one day! I also had that teacher in my life and when I graduated from college I sent him a letter telling him. He sent a nice letter back..hope I made his day.

Randi said...

Now that brought a tear to my eye! I so hope he is still alive and can read your tribute. What a gift. And I must admit I did laugh out loud when you said that the last word he uttered was your! He was probably congratulating you inside, but couldn't show it. :)

Anonymous said...

I really liked the article, and the very cool blog

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kisatrtle
I'm a 41 year old (gasp) freelance writer, school cafeteria manager, wife and mother. I have three children and one anxious and overweight beagle. I use my blog to make others laugh, to share some cool crafts, to document my lunchlady adventures and to lament about the challenges faced by us all on the journey called life. Thanks for visiting. Please leave some crack...um...I meant some comments.
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