Foreword:
Insixthgrade,Mrs.Johnsonwasmyfavoriteteacher.Sheinspiredmetolovereadingandwriting,andIalwayslookedforwardtoherEnglishclasses.Attheendoftheschoolyear,Idecidedtowriteheralettertoexpressmyappreciationforallshehaddoneforme.LittledidIknowthatthisletterwouldchangebothofourlivesforever.
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Mrs.Johnsonwasatallandelegantwomanwithawarmsmileandakinddemeanor.Herclassroomwasalwaysfilledwithbooksandposters,andsheencouragedustoreadasmuchaswecould.Ilovedthewayshewouldreadaloudtous,usingdifferentvoicesforeachcharacterandbringingthestoriestolife.
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Astheendoftheschoolyearapproached,IknewthatIwantedtodosomethingspecialforMrs.Johnson.Ihadneverwrittenaletterbefore,butIdecidedtogiveitatry.IwroteabouthowmuchIhadenjoyedherclasses,howmuchIhadlearnedfromher,andhowgratefulIwastohaveherasmyteacher.
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WhenIgavehertheletteronthelastdayofschool,Mrs.Johnsonwastouched.Shegavemeabighugandtoldmehowproudshewasofme.IfeltasurgeofhappinessandknewthatIhadmadeherday.
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Thatsummer,IreceivedaletterfromMrs.Johnson.Shethankedmeformykindwordsandtoldmethatmyletterhadinspiredhertokeepteachingevenwhenshefeltdiscouraged.Shesaidthatitwasbecauseofstudentslikemethatshelovedherjobsomuch.
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Overthenextfewyears,Mrs.JohnsonandIkeptintouchthroughlettersandemails.Shewouldsendmebooksandarticlestoread,andwewoulddiscusstheminourcorrespondence.Ifeltlikeshewasamentorandafriend,someoneIcouldturntoforadviceandguidance.
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WhenIgraduatedfromhighschool,IinvitedMrs.Johnsontomyceremony.Shewasthrilledtobethereandtooklotsofpictures.Shetoldmehowproudshewasofmeandhowmuchshebelievedinme.IfeltlikeIhadasecondmother,someonewhohadalwaysbeenthereforme.
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AfterIgraduatedfromcollege,Idecidedtobecomeateachermyself.IwantedtoinspirestudentsthewayMrs.Johnsonhadinspiredme.Iwroteheralettertotellheraboutmydecisionandtothankheronceagainforallshehaddoneforme.
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Mrs.Johnsonwasoverjoyedwhenshereceivedmyletter.Shetoldmethatitwasthebestnewsshehadheardinalongtimeandthatshewasproudofmeforfollowingmydreams.ShesaidthatsheknewIwouldbeawonderfulteacherandthatshewouldalwaysbetheretosupportme.
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Iwentontogetmyteachingdegreeandstartedworkingatanelementaryschool.ItriedtoemulateMrs.Johnson'steachingstyle,usingbooksandstoriestoengagemystudentsandencouragetheirloveofreading.Irememberedhowshehadmademefeestudent,andIwantedtodothesameformyownstudents.
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Yearswentby,andMrs.JohnsonandIcontinuedtocorrespond.Wesharedstoriesaboutourfamiliesandourlives,andwealwaysendedourletterswith"Loveyou,Mrs.J"and"Loveyoutoo,Sweetie."Eventhoughwelivedfarapart,wefeltclosetoeachotherthroughourletters.
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Oneday,IreceivedaletterfromMrs.Johnson'sdaughter.Shetoldmethathermotherhadpassedawaypeacefullyinhersleep.Iwasdevastated.Ihadlostateacher,amentor,andafriend.
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AtMrs.Johnson'sfuneral,Ispokeabouthowshehadchangedmylife.ItoldthestoryoftheletterIhadwrittentoherinsixthgradeandhowthatletterhadsparkedafriendshipthathadlastedforovertwentyyears.Ithankedherforbelievinginme,forinspiringmetobecomeateacher,andforalwaysbeingthereforme.
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Afterthefuneral,IreceivedaboxinthemailfromMrs.Johnson'sdaughter.ItwasfilledwithallthelettersandcardsthatMrs.JohnsonandIhadwrittentoeachotherovertheyears.AsIreadthroughthem,IrealizedhowmuchMrs.JohnsonhadmeanttomeandhowmuchIhadmeanttoher.
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IdecidedtocompileourlettersintoabookasatributetoMrs.Johnson.Icalledit"LoveYou,Mrs.J"andincludedpicturesandstoriesofourfriendship.Iwantedtoshareourstorywithothersandshowthemhowasimplelettercanchangealife.
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Thebookbecamepopularamongteachersandstudentsalike.Itwasusedinclassroomsasawaytoencouragestudentstowritelettersofgratitudetotheirownteachers.IfeltlikeIwascarryingonMrs.Johnson'slegacybyinspiringotherstoappreciatetheireducators.
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Yearswentby,andIcontinuedtoteachandwrite.Ipublishedseveralbooks,includingamemoiraboutmyfriendshipwithMrs.Johnson.Ispokeatconferencesandschoolsaboutthepoweroflettersandtheimportanceofteachers.
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Oneday,Ireceivedanemailfromayoungwomanwhohadreadmybook.Shetoldmethatshehadwrittenalettertoherownsixthgradeteacher,inspiredbymystory.Shesaidthatherteacherhadcriedwhenshereadtheletterandthatithadbroughtthemclosertogether.
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IfeltasurgeofjoyasIreadtheemail.IknewthatMrs.Johnsonwouldbeproudofmeforinspiringotherstowritelettersofgratitude.IfeltlikeIwascontinuingherworkandspreadinghermessageofloveandkindness.
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AsIgrewolder,IthoughtoftenaboutMrs.Johnsonandourfriendship.Irealizedthatshehadbeenmorethanateachertome;shehadbeenarolemodel,aconfidante,andatruefriend.Ifeltgratefulforeverymomentwehadshared.
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Oneday,IreceivedaphonecallfromMrs.Johnson'sdaughter.Shetoldmethatshehadfoundaletterfromhermotherinwhichshehadwritten,"IfeellikeGodputSweetieinmylifeforareason."Shesaidthatshewantedtothankmeforbeingsuchanimportantpartofhermother'slife.
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IfelttearswellingupinmyeyesasIlistenedtoMrs.Johnson'sdaughter.Iknewthatourfriendshiphadbeenagift,bothtomeandtoMrs.Johnson.Ifeltlikewehadbeenmeanttomeet,meanttowriteletters,andmeanttoinspireeachother.
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Intheend,Irealizedthatasimplelettercanhavethepowertochangealife.Itcaninspire,encourage,andconnectpeopleinwaystheyneverthoughtpossible.Andforthat,IwillalwaysbegratefultoMrs.Johnsonandtotheletterthatstarteditall.
