Dear 9th Graders of 2011-2012 (last year),
I believe you may have ruined me for any other class of ninth graders forever and ever.
I have had other classes and students that I have loved. I remember clearly the names and faces of dear, dear, beloved students. They come and visit me still and I will love them forever. But as a class, as a whole, your class of the ninth grade of 2011-2012 has been the best yet.
You have to understand that you lived with me through some of my hardest days. Last year, I was learning to live as a single person again; as a single mother. I was learning to take my life back and become myself again. It was a year of many ups and downs, and your faces were in front of me day in and day out through that journey of firsts.
Specifically, you were there to listen to me talk about Charlie. It was hard, learning to care for him on my own. It was hard, watching him go through hardships and not knowing how best to care for him in certain ways. There were so many bumps in the road, so many days that I didn't know what to do or how I would manage, and you listened to me. My dear ninth graders, you don't know what you did by just listening and offering me your love. You were truly concerned. There's no price that can be put on that.
Also, there was the dating. There were the laughs as you watched me make charts and graphs comparing this guy to that one. There was genuine concern when I went through a heartbreak. There was patience as you listened to each silly or heart-wrenching story. I loved watching as my little ninth-graders would sometimes become protective of their English teacher! I loved knowing that there was, again, true concern for me.
And then, there was soccer! You taught me to love soccer (and elote!). You let me be Mama Osa. I got to bring my kids into that world, as well. Those soccer games are an experience I will never forget.
Last year, we laughed, we cried, we danced, we learned. We wen to the museum. We talked about my martial arts and my cage dreams. We got ready for that crazy test. I did my best, and you did better than yours.
Last year, you showed me that you loved me. And I hope you knew that I loved you in return. We hugged, we laughed, we wrote, we cried, we read, we discussed, we disagreed, we loved, and we laughed some more.
I love all of you more than you can ever know. I want to see you. You guys are the silliest, craziest, most beautiful, most handsome, most wonderful, most capable, most loving, best-hugging, and most AMAZING kids in the world. I know you are all destined for great things, and I can't wait to see what you do with this world to make it better. I know that you will. You made my world better, that's for sure.
Love,
Mrs. Sickle
