That’s Bo Diddley, when he visited Dunnellon High School. In the background is one of my students, Chris, who decided he was going to jam with Bo. Years later, Chris invited me to take his wedding photos.

Today is the beginning of Teacher Appreciation Week. I am not a teacher anymore, and usually I like to celebrate this week by telling a story about a great teacher I had. This year I feel compelled to, first, urge every one of you to reach out to a teacher who made a difference in your life. Let them know! Especially if they are still teaching. It’s rough out there on the front lines! Plus, there are only a few weeks left of school, so you know they are being tested every day.

Today I want to tell you about some things I discovered about myself as a teacher.

Seems like I am getting regularly contacted these days from students who I taught in my early years because THEIR kids are now about to graduate high school. I am so glad I never changed my phone number because my students from the late 90s and early 2000s have been texting to share photos with me of their teenagers attending prom or in their cap and gown.

Recently, I have been sought out by former students more than usual this year to do senior photo sessions for their own seniors, and a new wave of former students, about a decade younger, are now seeking me out to do photo sessions with their young families.

It warms my heart to know I have former students from 20 years ago who remember that I was there, and I took photos of them at their prom and graduation. It is such an honor to be asked to continue the tradition with their children.

At the same time, I have run into students in the past few months who have reminded me of things I said that influenced them in a way I never thought they would have—negatively. Anyone, I suppose, can be sensitive and take things differently than they were intended, but after talking to one former student, I realized that the proverb, “A word, like a stone, once launched cannot be recalled” could not be truer, and I guess I wish I had been more aware of how I spoke to people.

I always did a behavior style thing with my journalism students so I could essentially “read the room” and give students the types of tasks and attention that would help them excel, but I did not do the same for my English students. And I was tough on them!

Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” So true, and it goes both ways. A teacher can make you feel all sorts of ways, empowered or defeated, capable or vulnerable.

Now, of course, you probably had a teacher or two that really earned their paycheck dealing with you, but if you had someone who really made a difference, see if you can let them know. I am sure they will appreciate it.

THANK YOU to all of my former students who shared fun news and photos of their almost-grown babies with me these past few months. It has been wonderful to share that with you.