Mrs. Sally Oxendine,

            My name is Lindsey Boring. I am sure you more than likely do not remember me, considering that you have probably had hundreds of students since I was a student in your class, however, I would like to let you know that I have never forgotten you. During my First grade year at Tropic Isles Elementary, I would like to think I learned the most and my passion for reading and learning was sparked; and I have you to thank for that. Ever since I left your classroom for the last time, my thirst for knowledge has grown and even in my first year of college, continues to grow.

            I remember the first day of your class. It was one of my favorite moments in Elementary school. I walked in and you gave me a hug and then led me to my seat with my name on the front of the desk. I will never forget that moment. Maybe it was the thrill of moving from the group desks in Kindergarten to a “big girl” desk of my own, or seeing my name on the front, like it was made just for me, but it was amazing. I’m sure that sounds silly, but trust me, when you are that little, that is such a cool moment. And although unintentional, you sat me next to a boy who would eventually be my best friend all the way up until our high school graduation.

            Perhaps the one thing I am most grateful to you for would be how much you made reading exciting to me. You sparked my interest in exploring the world of books and stories and imagination. To this day, I think I may be one of the few people I know who enjoys reading and does it for pleasure. You introduced the A.R. system to me and the competitive nature of getting more and more points was rewarding. I can remember competing with another girl in class to see who could get more. I cannot even begin to explain how much fun that was. A simple thank you seems less than adequate for you opening up that world for me.

            On the last day of class, you gave each student an envelope. Inside the envelope were a few pictures that you had taken throughout the year of each individual student. Then there was a letter. The letter had a poem on it and at the bottom you wrote each student a short good-bye. On mine you told me how proud of me you were and how far I had grown as a student. To this day, I still have that letter. Even though the good-bye may have been a general note that each student got, it still meant the world to me that a teacher did that. No other teacher I ever had after you cared enough to do that. After I finish college, and get my degree in teaching, and have a class of my own, I fully plan on doing the same thing. I want each of my students to know that they were important and mattered. Thank you for making me feel important, special and that I mattered.

            So I would really just like to thank you for being such an influential person in my life. I think you were ultimately the one teacher who, looking back, made me want to become a teacher as well. I want to be the teacher that ignites that passion within her students and who her students will always remember. I am eternally grateful to you and I hope one day I can be half the teacher you were to me.

Sincerely,