by Alyssa Miller ’13

 I want to thank some people first. My parents and my friends, of course, all the cheesy things you’d say if you won an award and had to give a speech. But I really want to thank some of my teachers.

First of all, thank you to Ms. Evans for being an amazing English teacher and for being there to help me with college recommendations. Thanks to Mr. Evans for putting up with me when I refuse to shut up in Jazz choir and for all the hard work you put into the music program every year. Thank you so, so much to Mr. Altaner, the first math teacher I’ve had since elementary school who has cared enough to work with me despite the fact that, well, I suck at math. I honestly can’t express my gratitude enough. You have done so much to help me learn in the class I had given up on before it even started. Thank you to Mrs. McKeldin for putting up with my inability to come to class on time and for being hilarious, and to Ms. Woolley for being so passionate about teaching and caring about your students so much. And thank you to Mr. Huck, for forcing me to think critically about literature. That sounds kind of rehearsed, but it’s not meant to be. I had never had much an interest in poetry before your class, and you’re a harder grader than any English teacher I’ve ever had, but I’m a much better writer for it. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to copy edit for The Warrior, an incredible experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. Thank you for being awesome.

A lot has changed in these years at Sherwood. It’s hard to believe the girl who told Dr. Jackson “I hate English” when I met her at my brother’s graduation (yes, I actually did that, but in all fairness I was in seventh grade, okay?) is going off to University of Maryland to major in just that. I’m pretty excited and a little nervous, but that’s to be expected. It has been an honor to write for The Warrior and I’ve had such an amazing experience in my two years on the staff.

If Sherwood has taught me one thing, it’s that not all teachers are going to go out of their way for their students, but the ones that do are invaluable. Find those teachers, the ones who really want you to learn for the sake of learning and not for a letter grade, and listen to them; they know what they’re talking about, and they’ll make you a better person and a better student.

Oh, and please don’t be that person who just stops in the middle of the hall between classes and creates a foot-traffic jam. Those people suck.