All around the country, students are graduating high school. They are walking across the stage, being handed their diplomas, and ending the ceremony with the tradition of throwing their caps high in the air. Starting with kindergarten, these seniors have made it through thirteen years of school, learning their ABC’s to logarithms to how to analyze poetry. Graduating is a very appropriate thing to celebrate, but it is not an ending, it is the beginning of the rest of the graduating classes’ lives.
Many different paths will be taken by these students. Some will go directly into the workforce. Some will join the United States Military to fight for our country. Some will begin a life of giving to others in the Peace Corps. Some will go to a 2-year college or trade school to get training in their desired field of work. The majority, 65.9 percent to be exact, of these students have already been accepted into a four-year college and have their lives planned out.
Over these thirteen years, many relationships and memories have been made that can never be forgotten. One may argue that they did not learn anything that will help them survive on their own, but that is simply not true. Having teachers throughout their lives that were there to help them learn, were not there just to learn. Teachers do so much more than just write notes on the board and give their students test.
Many people, myself included, have grown up in a broken family dynamic. Whether it is the absence of one’s mother or father, maybe even both, there are many ways that someone’s childhood may have been rough. Personally, every teacher I have had throughout my years has influenced who I am as a person, and I could not thank any of them enough. Some may not have made as big of an impact on me as others, but the fact that they were there for me in not only an educational sense but to be a role model for the adult I want to become myself, is a gift that is simply priceless and impossible to replace.
It is really a shame that teachers are so unappreciated and disrespected by some. Being a teacher is enough, before personal relationships are made. Each teacher has given and dedicated their lives to prepare children and young adults for college and life after college. Each teacher chose to spend the time to further their own education to make themselves suitable to be such an influence on the young minds of our country and the world.
After coming in contact with all of the wonderful people and experiences throughout my elementary and high school education, I have wide eyes to see what is next. My enthusiasm to move on does not mean that it is even close to forgetting what I have gone through, positive and negative experiences. Each and every moment in my life has led me to the path I have chosen to follow. I plan to attend Missouri State University, earn a degree in history, and attend law school afterwards. I do not strive to be a big prosecutor or defense attorney like you see in the movies or on television. I have a very strong passion and feel a huge force pulling me towards family law. I want to take what I have been through in life and use it for the greater good rather than feel sorry for myself and see it as a negative influence on who I am. I want to help broken homes be as civil as possible and help parents give their children the best life and the most opportunities for success.
The reason I bring this up is to further emphasize the impact the amazing teachers that I have had in my life. I was lucky enough to have these amazing teachers, but I want children to grow up not having to search and hope to find these kind of relationship but to come upon them by surprise and enjoy them while they last. I have not put a whole lot of thought into how blessed I have been to have these teachers until I have grown older and looked ahead into the next chapter of my life, which leaves me wishing that I would have thanked each and every one of them as many times as I could have.
So, due to that, I would like to give a huge thanks specifically to Gina Lowe, Pat Kelly, Pamela Howell, Jon Hebb, Breck VanBebber, Jennifer Collins, Theresa Meier, Cammie Symons, Tim Orisek, and Travis Brockschmidt for being not only teachers but great influences on who I am and who I will become from here on out!