A Teacher Not Forgotten...

I graduated high school 28 years ago... I am 45 years old and many days I still feel like that young high school girl from years gone by.... I can remember the excitement of going to the football games... The last minute cramming for a history test... Getting kidnapped in the middle of the night by a school club... Going on my first date... My locker combination 22-18-8..... Hanging out with friends in the Quad... Riding the city bus to and from school... Making great connections with teachers...

My senior year in high school - I took a creative writing class... This teacher really connected with the class.. Not only did he encourage us to step outside our comfort zone and write from our hearts, minds, and experiences... He opened his family to us.... I remember one particular night when he threw us a party at his home... We met his beautiful wife and children... I don't think he knew what an impact he made on our lives... my life that night. He was the first adult that accepted us as equals... That encouraged us to be greater than we could possibly imagine.... and twenty-eight years later - I still remember him... and our class...

I hope that my girls will have teachers... a teacher like I did in high school.. A teacher that sees the best in you... A teacher that encourages you... I had that and 28 years later - I still feel blessed to have known him.. Thank you, Mr. Tankenson!