Teacher Appreciation Dinner

When I had just entered the sixth grade, I remember going to a fireside at ze stake center about how they were going to introduce a new activity ever year, a teacher appreciation dinner. All the seniors would pick their favorite teachers from over the years and then there'd be a dinner to recognize them. I remember thinking how absolutely cool that would be. And then I started thinking about which teacher I would choose. And I picked Mrs. Krauser.

Now six years later I got to have my actual teacher appreciation dinner. And I still wanted to honor Mrs. Krauser. But she'd retired and I didn't know how I would find her. So I wrote a very long email to the lady in charge explaining my problem. Guess what? She found her! And my old principal Mr. Terrill. They were both very excited to come!

And then came the letter. How could I possibly tell her how much she meant to me? I tried my best.

Dear Ms. Krauser,

It was St. Patricks day 2003. All of us kids had had sugar for breakfast and were running around like village people. Right when you let us in the door you told us that there would be absolutely no pinching, and if there was, we would go to time out. Time out was the worst threat I had ever heard of in those days. I listened and didn't think much of it.

Then recess came around. It was raining so we had recess inside. I was sitting there minding my own business when out of nowhere a boy came up and pinched me, hard. I was wearing green too, so he had no reason to pinch me! Being the third grader I was I ran up to the lunch lady and told him.

“Well pinch him back,” she laughed. The lunch lady had told me I could so I ran up to the boy and pinched him. When recess ended you came back to the classroom and asked if anyone had pinched people. The lunch lady told you the boys name but not mine. I felt my heart sink really low in my chest. I had pinched him and gotten away with it. But I felt so awful. Head hung low I walked up to you and told you I had pinched him too. You told me that you were going to have to write me a timeout as well. That's when the excuses started.

“He pinched me first. I was wearing green. The lunch lady told me too.” Then the last one. “She made me do it.” I remember you looked me right in the eye then and told me something I'd never forget.

“No one can make you do anything. You get to decide.” I've remembered that moment ever since. And I've definitely followed that advice.

You inspired me to chase after my dreams. When I was in third grade I told you I was writing a story about a magic rainbow. A week later you gave me a form for a writing competition and told me I could enter it if I wanted. I still write stories today and hope to get published.

I remember you reading the Wednesday Witch and the book about tornados to us. Whenever it's really windy outside I listen for the toilet to start gurgling from the drop in air pressure just like in the book right before the tornado hits. I remember you would always listen to all of our little stories. And sometimes you would sit there and laugh so hard and we'd laugh at you laughing.

Third grade was one of the best years of my life. I definitely learned more than just my multiplication tables. Even at nine I thought you were one of the coolest people ever and I still do. And it always made my day that when I'd come by Riverdale for any reason you'd always say hi and want to know what was going on in my life. I'll never be able to do you justice in words with this but I just want to thank you. Thank you for being my teacher and caring so much. Thank you for being so amazing. Thank you for everything. I'll never forget you.

Finally March  7th came around, today, the day I'd been waiting for for six years. All day I was nervous about tonight. What if they didn't remember me, what if we had nothing to talk about? My dad was feeling sick so the bestby substituted in for him which was so sweet. When we got in I looked at all the people around me not recognizing anyone. Then we were led to our table where Mr. Terrill was waiting. It took me a second to realize it was him but then I was like OH MY GOSH ITS MR. TERRILL THE COOLEST PRINCIPAL EVER!!!!! And then Mrs. Krauser appeared and I really had nothing to be worried about. She was just as funny and cute and sweet as I remembered :) 

The dinner was FANTASTIC! Just saying. Man, catered food rocks! It was the exact same food that I'd had to serve last year and I was soooo excited to get to consume it! The bestby had already eaten and I felt really bad because the food was delicious! It was so fun to hear Mrs. Krauser and Mr. Terrill talk about what they're doing with their lives now that they aren't teaching anymore. I hope I get to be as cute at that age and travel as much. "It's my goal to be dressed by 11." So cute! 

When we went into the chapel and were reading the letters we'd written to our teachers, I almost cried. Yep, me. I know. They were all so sweet and you could feel the spirit so strong in the room and just how much we all loved these teachers and how much they loved us. It was, indescribable. I couldn't stop myself from going ahhh after each one. The guy who went two before me, his letter to Mrs. Safe mi math teacher from last year was so sweet that I was tearing up and when I went up to talk my legs were shaking and my voice and I have no idea how I read that letter. And then Mrs. Krauser was crying and it was just, ahhh. Amazing. I got a picture with them both and I can't wait to get it. Definitely going up on the wall.

I feel so blessed to have gone to an elementary school where the teachers and principals and just everyone were so caring and loving. The really cared about us and did everything they could to get us the best education and experience possible. I"ll always remember all of them and I'm glad that I got to know them all and laugh with them, learn more than just math, and be the person I am today.