A note I received during Teacher Appreciation Week

Sharing a note I received from a student this week. It is not the conventional syrupy sweet letter one might expect during Teacher Appreciation Week. The author is a very special student to me, a comeback kid with superb writing abilities, but this could be written by any who know the taste of failure or deep disappointment. It's a reminder to me how I need to acknowledge the people whom I've disappointed--it's not a reflection on them.  The spiritual implications here are infinite.

Mrs. Lee,

As I woke up at 9 this morning with the realization that I had actually missed the final, the same way I missed nearly/skipped every class this semester, I decided you needed to hear something.

You are an excellent teacher.

I don't want you to look back at me or any of the other students that may take your teaching and classes for granted (as well as our own education and money) and feel that that is a reflection of you. While that may not ever have crossed your mind, I still feel you needed to hear that. This is not me asking for mercy, or sympathy, or anything as arbitrary and useless as I feel those sentiments are. This is just me being a sub-par student that doesn't feel like I should leave my favorite teacher with any sort of doubts of her ability. Thank you for being the person you are.

- Student