Being thankful for a mentor, teacher, and friend.
Dear Dr. Simpson,
For the past two years I have had you as my professor for both of my math courses, Coffee Conversation class, and also my Portfolio class. When I was signing up for my classes at my New Student Conference, I was a little bit nervous when my counselor came up to me to ask if I wanted to be in a “small class of twenty or so for math.” At the time I was convinced that the counselor just made up that class. How on earth would I have a course for basic math in a University of over 50,000 students? No way was that true. I had emailed my counselor several times during the summer to make sure he was not pulling my leg (*I think I might have scared him). The start of fall classes came around and I remember reading on your syllabus about you being welcoming to your students adding you on Facebook. I took that offer seriously and we have been Facebook friends since September 2012. Most of my friends thought it was a little strange how I added you on Facebook, however my inner nerd liked that I had another way to ask you questions over the course material. I would like to thank you now for all the times I have messaged or emailed you, gone to your office hours, or any other form of stalking.
What you have taught me over the past four semesters was to become more confident in myself when it came to my academic work, presentations, and overall being. I want to thank you for investing your time in me and my others peer’s individual progress. I really do not think I would be as sure of myself if you were never my instructor. I was always hesitant to speak up in class however you would reassure me by using encouraging words that I was on a right track. You were also not shy from using constructive criticism, which I needed as much as your positive words. My favorite part of class was how you encouraged students to embrace their learning style. You never once gave us one format on how to solve the problem. You always encouraged me and the other students to solve the problem in our own way. To you we were individuals, not carbon copies. Along with teaching me to be more confident, you also made me aware of my weakness of being too apologetic. I was always so afraid, and still am at times, of hurting other people’s feelings with how blunt I can be. When I would apologize profusely in class, you would stop me and question me why I was apologizing. It was not a onetime deal you would ask me my reasoning behind my apologies. You made me conscientious about how many times I would apologize to people. I realized when I said “I am sorry” repetitiously it was losing its value behind it. Today I am still fighting to break that habit of being so apologetic. When I am about to say I am sorry, I often question myself of why am I apologizing and if I am meaning it or just using it as a filler word.
I also would like to thank you for being a stimulating mentor, professor, and honestly a friend in Business 403, Portfolios. This class has helped me become more aware of what my strengths and weaknesses are. For example, my strength of being an extrovert and my weakness of always being unsure. The games and exercises you made us play really helped me understand what points you were trying to make. For example, showing our creativity by using the picture flashcards. Along with being more aware of my strengths and feebleness, I also learned what I value, what my visions and ideas are, and also you made me aware of what others thought about me too. This class is something that every business or any other major needs to take. I would also like to make a shout out to Shannon Manley for being an awesome T.A. for this class. I had her for one of my classes in the fall semester, but I am grateful I got to know her this spring semester. Shannon is a caring, sweet, patient soul. I never felt uncomfortable asking her questions. So to the both of you thank you.
Dr. Simpson, I do not know if I will ever have another class with you, however the experience I had in your classes will follow me for the rest of my college years. You made an impact in my life more than you will ever know. I went from a scared, timid freshman to a more confident, vibrant, poised woman. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Allison
Written Spring of 2014
For the past two years I have had you as my professor for both of my math courses, Coffee Conversation class, and also my Portfolio class. When I was signing up for my classes at my New Student Conference, I was a little bit nervous when my counselor came up to me to ask if I wanted to be in a “small class of twenty or so for math.” At the time I was convinced that the counselor just made up that class. How on earth would I have a course for basic math in a University of over 50,000 students? No way was that true. I had emailed my counselor several times during the summer to make sure he was not pulling my leg (*I think I might have scared him). The start of fall classes came around and I remember reading on your syllabus about you being welcoming to your students adding you on Facebook. I took that offer seriously and we have been Facebook friends since September 2012. Most of my friends thought it was a little strange how I added you on Facebook, however my inner nerd liked that I had another way to ask you questions over the course material. I would like to thank you now for all the times I have messaged or emailed you, gone to your office hours, or any other form of stalking.
What you have taught me over the past four semesters was to become more confident in myself when it came to my academic work, presentations, and overall being. I want to thank you for investing your time in me and my others peer’s individual progress. I really do not think I would be as sure of myself if you were never my instructor. I was always hesitant to speak up in class however you would reassure me by using encouraging words that I was on a right track. You were also not shy from using constructive criticism, which I needed as much as your positive words. My favorite part of class was how you encouraged students to embrace their learning style. You never once gave us one format on how to solve the problem. You always encouraged me and the other students to solve the problem in our own way. To you we were individuals, not carbon copies. Along with teaching me to be more confident, you also made me aware of my weakness of being too apologetic. I was always so afraid, and still am at times, of hurting other people’s feelings with how blunt I can be. When I would apologize profusely in class, you would stop me and question me why I was apologizing. It was not a onetime deal you would ask me my reasoning behind my apologies. You made me conscientious about how many times I would apologize to people. I realized when I said “I am sorry” repetitiously it was losing its value behind it. Today I am still fighting to break that habit of being so apologetic. When I am about to say I am sorry, I often question myself of why am I apologizing and if I am meaning it or just using it as a filler word.
I also would like to thank you for being a stimulating mentor, professor, and honestly a friend in Business 403, Portfolios. This class has helped me become more aware of what my strengths and weaknesses are. For example, my strength of being an extrovert and my weakness of always being unsure. The games and exercises you made us play really helped me understand what points you were trying to make. For example, showing our creativity by using the picture flashcards. Along with being more aware of my strengths and feebleness, I also learned what I value, what my visions and ideas are, and also you made me aware of what others thought about me too. This class is something that every business or any other major needs to take. I would also like to make a shout out to Shannon Manley for being an awesome T.A. for this class. I had her for one of my classes in the fall semester, but I am grateful I got to know her this spring semester. Shannon is a caring, sweet, patient soul. I never felt uncomfortable asking her questions. So to the both of you thank you.
Dr. Simpson, I do not know if I will ever have another class with you, however the experience I had in your classes will follow me for the rest of my college years. You made an impact in my life more than you will ever know. I went from a scared, timid freshman to a more confident, vibrant, poised woman. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Allison
Written Spring of 2014