Grateful.

A 14-year old girl with dark brown hair, and green eyes moves through the hallways to the class she is not sure what to think about yet.  Usually, there is an immediate impression made by the teacher, but not in this classroom.  There is something to still be desired before a true impression of the teacher can be made on this girl.  She wonders what expectations will she have of me?  What will my grades be like?  Are we going to do something interesting, or sit here reading incredibly boring old literature?  Sure, it's English class and she is very good at English.  It's her best subject and usually something she enjoys, except for last year when she had a less than helpful teacher when reading The Iliad as a 13 year old.  By the way, why in the hell would you have a 13 year old read such an intricate story?  A child in 7th grade doesn't even understand their own life yet, how do you expect them to comprehend anything that was written in 800 B.C.E as a poem and then translated to English?  Yeah right.  But anyway...the class began to progress and the girl felt comfortable.  Larger assignments were due with shorter amounts of time and the expectations were high.  She had mountains of homework to complete, but absolutely did not mind completing homework for this English class.  Or should I say, she did not mind completing homework for this English teacher.  A teacher who not only taught her how to write complex, but grammatically correct sentences, but also taught her a bit about life.  It is what you make of it.  It is up to you to decide where your life will lead you, how you will live each day, and what you will not only expect from others, but most importantly yourself.  The best tool you'll ever find is you and no one can take that away; you are your biggest resource.  This teacher wasn't only that -- a person who teaches, but a mentor, and an inspiration.  She was this to her at 14, and she still is at 24.  This mentor, a great inspiration is no longer living, but her spirit lives in that 14 (now 24) year old every day.  That 14 year old was me.  The teacher/mentor was Mrs. Mark.  She passed away several years ago after a brief illness.  Each day I spend with my kiddos, I strive to do what she did and not only touch a child's education, but their heart and their spirit.  If at least one of my students has the ambition that Mrs. Mark gave to me, I'd be one of the happiest people in the world.

So in summary...

Dear Mrs. Mark,

You were one of the best teachers I've ever had.  No, you were one of the most inspiring people in my life.  Thank you for everything you've done for me and although you're physically not here, thank you for all your spirit still does for me every day.

Sincerely,
Maryke