Lately, I have been wrestling with juggling the responsibilities of teaching, while also writing recommendation letters for students in the Class of 2020.
My current sophomores jokingly quipped on Friday that I should just use a template – and my mind revolted at that idea (although if you do use a template, I totally get it).
Needless to say, each letter becomes a project. In front of me, I have students’ résumés, lists of extracurricular activities, honors and achievements, transcripts, etc. Thank god for Google Drive, because I was also able to pull up essays, letters, reflections, bell-work, and other assignments to reference as well. It is a process, but definitely one I am honored to do.
This year was especially significant, because I was asked to write letters by a handful of students who became my students rather unconventionally (either second semester of sophomore year in honors language arts, or second semester of junior year in AP Lang).
I was on my last letter of the season, when I came across this paragraph in a student’s advice letter to future tenth graders.
*** From the bottom of my heart, I really want to thank you for creating such a sheltered environment. Your class served as a daily get-away for me. On days where my pulse almost jumped out from my body, this class calmed me. You make each and every single student feel genuinely loved and wanted. It’s the little things that you did that made the biggest difference. In a way, you broke me out of my shell – and I felt powerful and understood every single time I walked into your class. I wish that every teacher had your energy and drive. Usually I’m beyond anxious before lunch, and somehow all that gets thrown out of the window when I come inside. It’s almost like a little bubble – one that allowed for self-expression and creativity. I know how hard it is to implement creativity and meet standards with everything that’s expected of you-but you did it. At the end of the year, I know that this will be that class I miss the most, because you allowed it to be a safe haven for me. Thank you for being such an amazing and life-changing educator.***
It reminds me of why I have absolutely no qualms about the time it takes to craft each letter – because, on the eve of graduation, my words are my final gift to you.
Thank you.
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