EDITOR'S NOTE: Kassandra Dankers, a senior at Farmington High School, wrote this essay about her journalism teacher, Carol Bundsgaard, for the Favorite Teacher of the Year contest, sponsored by Barnes & Noble in Fayetteville. Dankers' letter was chosen as the winning essay and Bundsgaard was selected Favorite Teacher of the Year by the bookstore. A reception was held at the bookstore Thursday to honor both student and teacher. Dankers' winning letter is printed below.
Mrs. Bundsgaard:
I only have 500 words to thank you for absolutely everything you have done for me and everything you have taught me, in class and out of class. Because of "short and sweet" sentences I learned to write in journalism, I can do that.
I have been beyond lucky to have you a grand total of six times since I started high school in 2012 and those are in fact the best six class periods I could have had. Each one of those days you welcomed me into your "Packer Nation" of a classroom with the biggest smile, most ridiculous song and the most positive vibes I have ever received.
Although I am not furthering my education in journalism, I couldn't be happier that you sparked that interest in me. I never thought I could write, and I never wanted to. It takes a lot to make a student realize the love they have for things they thought they didn't like.
I appreciate that you did that for me. Becoming a part of journalism and yearbook was the greatest part of coming to school. It was an amazing learning experience but it was also a lot of fun.
One thing I could never forget is spending lunch with you. Even though it was only thirty minutes, that small period could make up for whatever kind of day I was having. Those thirty minutes will always be and always have been my favorite thirty minutes.
Junior year sucked -- which you have recently learned from the class of 2017 -- but you were always there to ask how I was or how my day was going and for that I will always be grateful!
With all that being said: Thank you.
Thank you for putting me to work because it kept my mind from wandering on my bad days. Thank you for helping me learn to work with other people. Thank you for helping my yearbook visions become a reality. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being one of the most wonderful women in my life. I appreciate everything you have done to better my experience at Farmington High School.
Maybe it's a little cliche, but you are my favorite teacher!
Sincerely,
Kassandra Dankers
Class of 2016
General News on 04/20/2016