Dear Isabella,
I’m so glad I got the chance to be your teacher this year. As a fellow book
lover, it makes me happy to know that you will carry on the torch of reading.
With books, you are never alone (or bored!).
It is a great responsibility to be intelligent, introspective, thoughtful, and
judicious—all traits that you possess. Own them. People will try to make being
lazy or uninspired look cool. Spoiler alert: they will fail. You, however, will
go far in life. Your successes will be because of your hard work and you should
be exceptionally proud of that.
This year, I watched you read your books and do your classwork, like any
run-of-the-mill reading teacher would do. I also watched you rise above the
chaos and drama of your class. I watched you remain reasonable and patient
despite situations that would inspired opposite emotions in your teammates. I
have loved watching you grow and mature and find a place wherein you, Isabella,
can flourish. I trust that you will continue to do that, too. Thank you for
letting me be a part of your life, if only for a year. Every time I open up a
book, I will think of you!
With love,
Ms. Berkeley