Dear Mr. Banks,

Since it’s Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to share my utmost gratitude for having you as my intro to journalism teacher and lifelong mentor. 

Although my time as your student was only for one year, what I learned from you is enough for a lifetime. The advice that you gave me from the passion that you have for writing and journalism helped to expand my writing immensely. 

I didn’t know what to expect when I signed up for an intro to journalism class, but with your help and guidance, along with the excitement you added to the class, I was able to find a connection to writing and journalism. This connection that I was able to form because of your teaching has helped to shape me into the writer I am today and what has pushed me to expand my love for journalism into joining the Newspaper Journalism class.

I’m so thankful for having you as my teacher and mentor, and for all the stories you have shared over the time. You were able to open my eyes to journalism and create the spark for it that I still have today. I hope you have an amazing and exciting Teacher Appreciation Week!

From the bottom of my heart,

Alex Shekailo