As the end of the school year is within my grasp, I wanted to take the time to share something with the world. My recent years in education have been trying—to say the least. I have bounced around from school to school and like Goldilocks, none of them were just right. While it may seem to come as a shock (or maybe not to some), I have decided to leave Fairfax High School in West Hollywood. It was not an easy decision, but in the end; my heart was pulled elsewhere and I needed to listen to it. That said, my short tenure at Fairfax has certainly been challenging but also very rewarding.

I wanted to highlight some joys of my work this year and give a shout out to my honors kids: BEAR. You won’t get it, and don’t have to, but they will 🙂

• This year I have seen a timid autistic child blossom into a social butterfly, making friends, laughing with others, and giving wonderful presentations in front of the whole class with grace and confidence! Not only that, this beautiful child has blessed me by letting me into her world and writing stories [and I am in them as a super-hero type–must be the hair] that she shares with me daily. Also, her mother and I have formed a wonderful bond through her daughter and we have become friends. My work as her daughter’s teacher has transcended the classroom. I am more to this young lady and her mother than just her English teacher.  I am someone who saw her light, let it shine, and created a life long bond. To me, there is nothing more powerful than building a lasting relationship and really seeing someone.

• In one of my classes two students wrote me letters about their personal lives thanking me for saving them from taking their own lives. Sadly, yes you absolutely read that correctly. These young girls detailed how without me, without the help I got them, without the journaling we did in my class—they may not be here with us today. Oh, how my heart hurts to imagine these angels not in this world to share their gifts with us. I am humbled to be the person that guided them to see their self-worth and I admire their courage in combatting depression. You both know who you are and I want you to know that you are both SO BRAVE and to never stop fighting for yourself because you are worthy. You are worthy. You are worthy. You are so darn worthy.

• Finally, my biggest take away from this year is watching so many of my students share with me that I taught them how to love themselves, be compassionate to others, to OWN THEIR AWESOME, and never accept the status quo. In reading the end of year reflections from my students, though some may have failed because they didn’t do their work—they got it. Do good and be good, and the universe will collaborate in your favor. Thank you my dear students at Fairfax High School. I have loved every minute (well most minutes) with you and will forever recall our many laughs, riveting discussions, and the tears we shared while bonding. I promise to take all that I have learned from you as I re-transition back to middle school and assume a 7^th grade position at Virgil Middle School—where it all started 12 years ago. That’s right, I am returning home.

It is with a giddy heart that I share my excitement to return to middle school and back where I began my teaching career. Virgil was where I learned to be great. My former principal Ada Snethen saw something in me; and the only reason I am the educator I am today is because of her. Thank you, Ada. It is with that, that I leave you a letter I wrote to my students as I bid them farewell and we now start our journeys without one another…

Dearest Students,

Saying goodbye is never easy but alas, a part of life.

Life is nothing but a series of transitions. You have transitioned from elementary to middle then to high school. Soon enough you will transition from high school to college, and then into the work place. The goal is not to avoid or fight these transitions, but to meet these challenging times of monumental change with zest, joy, and an open mind. While transitioning through life is never easy; the idea is that each and every time you navigate something new you take the lessons of those before you from friends, family, teachers, and most of all yourself. It is my hope that through our time together you have learned that life is never easy, but a magnificent gift meant to be lived to the fullest while living your truth as you pursue your passions. And on that note, I wanted to leave you with some nuggets of greatness and truth bombs for you to look back on when you need a little extra motivation.

First of all, no matter what society or others will try to tell you, there is nothing wrong with you. Get that through your head. You are completely normal and perfect in the skin you occupy and the body that warehouses your power. It is OK to be sad, confused, and lost. If you weren’t I would be worried. No one your age—heck, even at my age should ever have a set sense of who they are or where they are going etched into stone.

That is what is so beautiful about life—growing, learning, and figuring it all out.

Discovering what you like, don’t like, need, don’t need, what or whom is healthy for you and what or whom is not. Every experience is designed to shape who you are…who you will be. Sure, it’s tough, but it is supposed to be. If it were easy and you didn’t struggle, you would never learn anything, nor see the value in life’s experiences. Don’t let old mistakes or misfortunes hold you down. You are not a victim of your life or circumstance unless you choose to be. Learn from mistakes, forgive yourself, and above all, forgive those that have hurt you.

Strife and conflict help you emerge from something stronger than you were before. The key is to never be discouraged by adversity but to meet it as a challenge and rise above it. Remember that the pain and sacrifice you experience while working for something is temporary. But the pride and lessons you take away from something will last forever. Be empowered by the courage it takes you to overcome obstacles; never forget that with most things in life, things always get harder before they get easier.

It is always darkest before dawn, but there is always light. Never forget that. Good will always prevail because Good never, ever gives up.

You are on a path of self-discovery. “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Relish and enjoy every little bit of your journey. There is no race to “be good at life”. Trust me, because in the end, the only race you are running in this life is with yourself. You have no one to beat or catch up to. Do you. Be you. And most of all: Look in the mirror and love YOU.

Find the simple beauty in a cool, crisp breeze. Revel in the stillness of the morning as the sun is rising, slowly awakening the city for a day filled with promise and hope. Admire a flower in bloom and stop to savor its scent. Pause to start living. No, I mean really live. Put down your cell phone and look up—you will amaze yourself at the wonders that surround you when you pause from the 4-inch screen between your thumbs and just look up once and a while. Stop watching and vow to never be a bystander to your own life. Start listening to your heart and let it guide you. Your heart is the epicenter of your very being and it will never lead you astray. Don’t over-think the simple things in life—sometimes, simplicity is a good thing. Take it for what it is and delight in the fact that some things can still be understood and resolved with a smile.

Be cautious to whom you trust with your heart, and be careful how you treat those with whom you share yours. Do not allow any one person or whomever you fall for to dictate your emotions. The right person will love you for you and never make you feel bad for being who you are. The right person will celebrate you and all of your successes along the way. Conversely, that very same person will embrace you for your faults too—not use them as a weapon to tear you down. As you grow, the right person and people will treat your heart with care, elevating you to heightened levels of greatness.

Never settle for someone who treats you like an option when you are indeed a priority. For if you want anyone in this world to see your true worth, you yourself must see your own value first.

Stand tall with your head high. Be confident in the person you are becoming every day and only take on things that make you happy. Life is too short to waste your time invested in people or things that bring you sadness or hold you back. If something no longer serves you, let it go. You do not need anyone’s permission or approval to attack your dreams. Own Your Awesome.

Do not harbor or hold onto anger, it will only bring you down and prevent you from being able to move forward. This adventure called life is filled with joy but sometimes you need to look beyond the thickness of trial and tribulation to see the light trickling through.

Take a genuine interest in others. Learn and grow from those who have walked the path you are on.

Give back to your community by lifting those up who need it most. Be the change and stop waiting for others to take action. Use your voice and refuse to be silenced. Stand firm in the face of injustice and never back down.

Make connections and build bridges. Leave a legacy behind of indelible grace, honor, and magnitude upon each and every heart you come in contact with. Inspire others by living your truth and forging a new path.

I know I said it earlier, but I will say it again. There is always light. Never forget that. Good will always prevail because Good never, ever gives up and you are Good.

Forever Your English Teacher,

Mrs. Miller