CSIU Winner
Rachael Smith, Berwick High School
Teachers are meant to impact one's education, but there is one teacher who had impacted not only my education, but my life as well; Mrs. Thomas. Until senior year, school was a struggle; educationally and personally. I spent years battling my drug addiction, while trying to stay in school. Frequently absence, regularly residing in rehabs, and running away from reality, were constants in my chaotic life. Along with anything more I could do to place this junky lifestyle ahead of my needs; education and family.
During my battle, I had lost everything from my morals and values to my dreams. Control, which I lacked, was what I thought I had, and rationalized that I hadn't created the turmoil I was in. Being placed into institutions for months, and missing my youngest sister’s birth, wasn't enough to open my eyes enough to change; I needed to destroy this addiction before it destroyed me. It wasn't until I attended my third rehab, realized the mess I made, and that I needed to change before the drugs killed me. Three long months, I sat and thought when I realized I was powerless over my addiction and to beat this addiction I had to let others help me; something new.
Open-minded to guidance after rehab, I found that most people had given up on me. My addiction had begun to feel like a battle I was going to face alone, until speaking with Mrs. T. I went back to school scared to experience it sober. Going back was challenging; my past constantly used against me and overwhelming feelings of hopelessness that I would ever be 'normal'. Without Mrs. T, I know I would've dropped out; gave up. Teachers and guidance counselors had gave up too, but Mrs. T had faith in me, and helped me have faith in myself. Sober, I recovered past, lost dreams, like dual enrollment, that turned me down because of my past.
I'm still clueless as to why Mrs. T has helped me so much, but I'm truly grateful. I don't just have a teacher, I have a friend; someone who still has faith in me, even when I didn't have faith in myself. Mrs. Thomas had gone out of her way to speak to other school staff, to make sure I was given the opportunity to prove I had changed. I was given the opportunity to do cyberschool as a senior, and have made excellent progress, academically and personally.
Without help from Mrs. T, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do dual enrollment or cyber, and for that I'm also grateful. Mrs. T not only impacted my education, by making sure I could prove my true academic potential, but majorly impacted my life as well, by helping me overcome my addiction and become the strong person I am today. In my eyes, I consider Mrs. T not only my greatest teacher, but my lifesaver as well.