A Letter

To my dearest teacher, I may not be the brightest student you’ve ever had nor am I the nicest nor the sweetest nor the most opinionated nor the most curious nor the most charming, I may not be the student you’ll always remember, but you are a teacher that I will never forget for you taught me great things greater than those you can learn from books, things that you can only learn through experience, things I wouldn’t have been able to learn on my own. You taught me forgiveness and understanding and patience and gentleness and humility and open-mindedness and acceptance. Those are the things I wouldn’t have been able to learn on my own. You are my parent in a home far away from my home. You are my parent in a family that is a community, a society. You are my parent when I’m away from my other parents. You are my parent in sadness, joy, fear and confusion. You are my parent that will always be a part of me. You are my parent. You are important to me. I don’t need celebrities to look up to for you are my idol. I don’t need DC Comics and Marvel for me to have a hero for I have you as mine. You have sacrificed so much for me so did my parents, and the heroes for the place they protect. You are a parent. You are a hero. You may not remember me forever but I know I will remain in your heart and memory as you will in mine.