I truly hope that after almost seven years since I was in your 6th grade Humanities class that you remember me. I'm sure you do, in some way, shape, or form.
I'm not sure why today of all days I decided to search up your email address and send you this email, but it feels really good to be doing so! Plain and simply, Ms. McKeil, you have been one of the most influential teachers in my life, and I just wanted to see how you were doing. I don't know if you remember, but we had a couple of emotional (and might I say life-changing) talks afterschool while I was in your class. I clearly remember two of them, and I know that what you said to me during those events have played a significant role in who I am today. At the moment I didn't know how important those times were, but as I grow and grow, your words never cease to resonate with me, subconsciously playing a part in the person I'm proud to be.
The last time I visited you and the rest of our core teachers, like Mr. Reuzl, was probably during my freshman year in high school. I remember you mentioning a change in career plans for you, or that you were considering retiring. I couldn't find your contact information on the Chaparral Middle School directory, so I'm guessing that's what you decided to do. You deserve it!
Something I remember from our classroom was that you had a poster of UCLA football and a large blue sock (or at least that's what I remember it as) with a Bruin bear in it. I remember never really knowing what a Bruin was. In fact at that time I don't think I even knew what UCLA was. Well fast-forward to my freshman year in college and guess where I am! Yup, a UCLA Bruin! I'm not superstitious or anything Ms. McKeil, but I kind of think that your influence on me had some strange karma-tic way of working itself out like that.
...
Clearly I remember much from 6th grade Humanities, and On My Own, but I'm trying to remember now if it was "Beat Suzanne!" that you always chanted, or if it was "Beat 'SC!", or maybe both ;)
Well, I really hope this email reaches you and that you respond, if possible. I'm already a third year at UCLA, and I don't think any of my professors will have as profound an effect on me as you did. To close things off here's something I found on an ooold blog post of mine that I thought would be nice to share with you as this email comes to close:
Monday, June 12, 2006
"...
I found the little stuffed animals and samplers we had done in Mrs. McKeil's sixth grade On My Own class. I loved that class, and I loved Mrs. McKeil. She loved me too. I miss her and I want to visit her. I heard she was retiring. I really hope she didnt retire. I owe her a lot. Mrs. McKeil was the first person to ever tell me to share in class. One time i got back an essay that i had written in that class, and her comment at the bottom was to see her. So i saw her. We ended up crying together. She said that I wrote very well, and the things I wrote were very insightful. She really wanted me to speak up with these things in class, that the class discussions needed me. I was ... I didn't know what to do when she told me that. What do you do? We cried together. I love Mrs. McKeil even today. I will always remember that.
If you know me now, I speak up A LOT in class. And I don't just say anything either. And I have Mrs. McKeil to thank. I wonder if she knows that.
Thinking of Mrs McKeil leads me to think of Mr. Reuzl. He was another great man. I wonder how he'd feel knowing that I'm going to major in Biology.
I really hope they all remember me.
Going on, I found a bunch of fake money and coins..."
Here's the link to that post if you are interested in the rest: http://savedxsamiah.blogspot.com/2006/06/two-shoeboxes.html
Thanks again Ms. McKeil,
Love and Sincerely,
ll
Posts
