Ms. Jorgensen, 

During middle school, I used to write long, fictitious stories about imaginary characters I came up with during a boring science lecture. At one point, I turned all my friends into zombie apocalypse survivors and continued humanity. My desire to write stories got to such a point where after a chaotic day, I’d come home to continue my stories on my phone notes. 

When I became too mature for solely apocalyptic stories, I became connected with writing poems. I wrote poems when any emotion threaded itself into my life, chaotic or neutral. Eventually, life got ahold of me and created nothing but business. I forgot how satisfying it was to get a good piece of work written in front of you.

Ms. Jorgenson, you unknowingly brought back my desire to write from the dead. It had been left in the dust a couple of miles back before I joined this creative writing class. You pick topics that challenge not only my writing skills but also my perspective and creativity on certain topics. You guide students to express themselves and their experiences in a creative manner, even if they don’t necessarily have an idea at first. Your patience gets through even the most writing-reluctant students.

Because of you, I am a published author at the age of sixteen. My words will forever mark the world with my name, in all its glory. If you would have asked middle school me where my writing would’ve taken me, the word “published” never spilled from my lips. I carry my publication close and proud, like a policeman's golden badge. You could say, I learned from the best.

You have inspired me to keep in touch with writing continuing onward from sophomore year. It’s an old friend of mine I’ve forgotten to check up on after a long period of chaos. For all that, I am forever grateful for your encouragement, dedication, and respect you as a person open to your class. I look up to your skills as a writing role model. You let me feel like criticism and feedback can be beneficial and not embarrassing.

I appreciate everything you have done for me, and continue to do for me, this year at Arrowhead. Writing is not only enjoyable but also used in everything we continue to do. You’ve brought back the energy of my sixth-grade self, who would have rather continued writing than get to bed on time for tomorrow.