Aww, I love this. What a beautiful tribute and thank you to a teacher who clearly made such a difference. And it’s so true, teachers like that are the ones we grow up and never forget. I recently had lunch with my uncle, and he struck up a conversation with a woman who walked in. It turned out she was a teacher at my old elementary school, and not just any teacher, but MY very favorite 2nd grade teacher! I never forgot her because she was so kind and caring. She became a safe haven for me during a time when I was really struggling with an abusive 3rd grade teacher. She even stepped in and advocated for me and other students when we needed someone. Teachers like that stay with you forever.
I later had a teacher in 10th grade who made a huge difference, too. I was being bullied, especially in his class, and I had started shutting down. I went from doing well to failing. One day he pulled me aside, told me he saw what was happening, but that he also saw my potential and didn’t want me to throw it away because of bullies. That conversation changed me. I turned it all around, got an A in his class, and years later ended up working as a legal secretary/paralegal. His class was business law, so in many ways he helped put me on that path. Eight years later, my sister ended up in his class, and I sent a thank-you note with her, telling him how much his kindness had meant and where life had taken me. She said he got very teary when he read it.
So yes, teachers like ATR matter so much. The care they give can stay with a child for a lifetime. What a beautiful gift she has given your daughter. 💜
Wow I bet that 10th grade teacher got teary! That's such a beautiful thing you did!! It's so great that he was able to encourage you to focus and not let bullies have power over your achievements!
And the teacher who helped you and others with that other one who clearly from other conversations shouldn't have been a teacher is an example of how far a great teacher will go!
You're right teachers do stay with for a lifetime! This is one of the reasons I write on behalf of teachers and show gratitude as when there's an amazing teacher, they can make a huge difference!
I remember my favourite teachers throughout my school years. I remember having a teacher who would sing our names while doing the register and there was a popular song with my first name but the only difference was the letter "M" was at the beginning and he would simply swap my name to it, that was primary school. Then there was a dinner lady who intervened when another child was trying to get me to do mischief in my first primary school & that one action stayed with me, she helped me find my voice as she could see I didn't want to do the things they wanted.
One of my favourite teachers in secondary school was my drama teacher who helped a group of us create a talent show, she would work during her lunch break to allow us to rehearse and she wrote about the talent show as part of our school newsletter and I still have it. Her belief, encouragement and effort definitely stayed with me!
Lastly my English teacher really encouraged me with my writing and reading, my parents always looked forward to parents evening with him as he was so enthusiastic. I saw him during my first year of teaching at the training centre newly qualified teachers go to frequently (you have to pass the first year of teaching otherwise regardless of the degree, it would be a fail) and he was there and it was so good to speak with him as I was 16 the last time I saw him and at that point I was 24/25.
Thank you for your support and sharing your experiences too, truly appreciate you 💜🤗
I love this so much, especially what you said about your drama teacher giving up her lunch breaks to help you rehearse. That’s exactly the kind of thing people don’t always see from the outside, but it can mean everything to the kids receiving it. The time, the belief, the effort... that all stays with us.
And your English teacher encouraging your writing and reading… I love that too. Especially that you got to see him again later, when you were teaching. That must have been such a full-circle moment. There’s something really beautiful about realizing, as an adult just how much someone helped shape you when you were younger.
I think that’s why I love that you write about teachers. They should honestly be celebrated and honored far more than they are. They are such a huge part of our lives when we’re young, and now our children’s lives too, and they absolutely do not get the respect, love, or support they deserve. You've really had me looking back on some of teachers in my own life who made the biggest impact.
I mentioned in my Chichén Itzá post that I became the teacher’s pet in 11th grade history because of the book "Aztec", but I didn’t really go into how close she and I became. Obviously, we didn’t talk about the Aztecs and Maya the entire school year, lol, but I still got an A in her class because of her. Everyone talked about how she was the hardest teacher, and she was, but it was because she cared so deeply. You could feel it in how she taught us, how she treated us, how she interacted with us. She was amazing.
Then in 7th grade, I had to have my appendix taken out, so I couldn’t take the swim class (funny, huh that I even signed up for a swim class! Clearly, my higher self and guides knew I was NOT ready to face the water yet! 😂) I had signed up for and ended up becoming a TA that period for my English teacher. She was another one I got really close to. She introduced me to "The Clan of the Cave Bear" series, which turned out to be my all-time favorite series. I also now know that was probably partly because I had at least one life in prehistoric times, and it was one of my happiest. Have I told you about that one yet? She did tell me I couldn’t read the book until my mom read it first and said it was okay, which of course she did, because my mom pretty much let me read anything I wanted. Lol.
Oh dear, it looks like I’m rambling again. I warned you in my DM that I wasn’t awake yet! LOL 💜
What a great write in gratitude. I myself like you definitely pen down appreciation to those who have impact in my life or my children’s. But this was definitely an extend G.J post. The teacher will definitely take this as a trophy to her heart. 💫
C Simone, this is a beautiful tribute because you show how much a teacher can mean during a child’s first experience of belonging in school. ATR did more than help your daughter settle into a classroom; she helped her feel understood across language, culture, emotion, and transition. That matters so much for bilingual children and their families, because safety often comes before confidence, and being met where you are can change how a child begins to see school, community, and herself. Thank you for honoring ATR and the staff with such care, and for reminding us how deeply teachers can shape a child’s sense of welcome.
Aww, I love this. What a beautiful tribute and thank you to a teacher who clearly made such a difference. And it’s so true, teachers like that are the ones we grow up and never forget. I recently had lunch with my uncle, and he struck up a conversation with a woman who walked in. It turned out she was a teacher at my old elementary school, and not just any teacher, but MY very favorite 2nd grade teacher! I never forgot her because she was so kind and caring. She became a safe haven for me during a time when I was really struggling with an abusive 3rd grade teacher. She even stepped in and advocated for me and other students when we needed someone. Teachers like that stay with you forever.
I later had a teacher in 10th grade who made a huge difference, too. I was being bullied, especially in his class, and I had started shutting down. I went from doing well to failing. One day he pulled me aside, told me he saw what was happening, but that he also saw my potential and didn’t want me to throw it away because of bullies. That conversation changed me. I turned it all around, got an A in his class, and years later ended up working as a legal secretary/paralegal. His class was business law, so in many ways he helped put me on that path. Eight years later, my sister ended up in his class, and I sent a thank-you note with her, telling him how much his kindness had meant and where life had taken me. She said he got very teary when he read it.
So yes, teachers like ATR matter so much. The care they give can stay with a child for a lifetime. What a beautiful gift she has given your daughter. 💜
Wow I bet that 10th grade teacher got teary! That's such a beautiful thing you did!! It's so great that he was able to encourage you to focus and not let bullies have power over your achievements!
And the teacher who helped you and others with that other one who clearly from other conversations shouldn't have been a teacher is an example of how far a great teacher will go!
You're right teachers do stay with for a lifetime! This is one of the reasons I write on behalf of teachers and show gratitude as when there's an amazing teacher, they can make a huge difference!
I remember my favourite teachers throughout my school years. I remember having a teacher who would sing our names while doing the register and there was a popular song with my first name but the only difference was the letter "M" was at the beginning and he would simply swap my name to it, that was primary school. Then there was a dinner lady who intervened when another child was trying to get me to do mischief in my first primary school & that one action stayed with me, she helped me find my voice as she could see I didn't want to do the things they wanted.
One of my favourite teachers in secondary school was my drama teacher who helped a group of us create a talent show, she would work during her lunch break to allow us to rehearse and she wrote about the talent show as part of our school newsletter and I still have it. Her belief, encouragement and effort definitely stayed with me!
Lastly my English teacher really encouraged me with my writing and reading, my parents always looked forward to parents evening with him as he was so enthusiastic. I saw him during my first year of teaching at the training centre newly qualified teachers go to frequently (you have to pass the first year of teaching otherwise regardless of the degree, it would be a fail) and he was there and it was so good to speak with him as I was 16 the last time I saw him and at that point I was 24/25.
Thank you for your support and sharing your experiences too, truly appreciate you 💜🤗
I love this so much, especially what you said about your drama teacher giving up her lunch breaks to help you rehearse. That’s exactly the kind of thing people don’t always see from the outside, but it can mean everything to the kids receiving it. The time, the belief, the effort... that all stays with us.
And your English teacher encouraging your writing and reading… I love that too. Especially that you got to see him again later, when you were teaching. That must have been such a full-circle moment. There’s something really beautiful about realizing, as an adult just how much someone helped shape you when you were younger.
I think that’s why I love that you write about teachers. They should honestly be celebrated and honored far more than they are. They are such a huge part of our lives when we’re young, and now our children’s lives too, and they absolutely do not get the respect, love, or support they deserve. You've really had me looking back on some of teachers in my own life who made the biggest impact.
I mentioned in my Chichén Itzá post that I became the teacher’s pet in 11th grade history because of the book "Aztec", but I didn’t really go into how close she and I became. Obviously, we didn’t talk about the Aztecs and Maya the entire school year, lol, but I still got an A in her class because of her. Everyone talked about how she was the hardest teacher, and she was, but it was because she cared so deeply. You could feel it in how she taught us, how she treated us, how she interacted with us. She was amazing.
Then in 7th grade, I had to have my appendix taken out, so I couldn’t take the swim class (funny, huh that I even signed up for a swim class! Clearly, my higher self and guides knew I was NOT ready to face the water yet! 😂) I had signed up for and ended up becoming a TA that period for my English teacher. She was another one I got really close to. She introduced me to "The Clan of the Cave Bear" series, which turned out to be my all-time favorite series. I also now know that was probably partly because I had at least one life in prehistoric times, and it was one of my happiest. Have I told you about that one yet? She did tell me I couldn’t read the book until my mom read it first and said it was okay, which of course she did, because my mom pretty much let me read anything I wanted. Lol.
Oh dear, it looks like I’m rambling again. I warned you in my DM that I wasn’t awake yet! LOL 💜
What a great write in gratitude. I myself like you definitely pen down appreciation to those who have impact in my life or my children’s. But this was definitely an extend G.J post. The teacher will definitely take this as a trophy to her heart. 💫
Muchas gracias LV! Appreciate your kind words & it's awesome that you also do it too! ☺️
C Simone, this is a beautiful tribute because you show how much a teacher can mean during a child’s first experience of belonging in school. ATR did more than help your daughter settle into a classroom; she helped her feel understood across language, culture, emotion, and transition. That matters so much for bilingual children and their families, because safety often comes before confidence, and being met where you are can change how a child begins to see school, community, and herself. Thank you for honoring ATR and the staff with such care, and for reminding us how deeply teachers can shape a child’s sense of welcome.
Thank you so much Rev. for your kind words! I'm glad my aim was expressed! Thank you for recognising it and for your consistent support ✨️
Beautiful dedication & reflection!
Thank you Ria!