A letter to my professor

Dear Bob:

I know it is common courtesy to thank those who have helped a graduate get to their day of commencement. However, I have been eagerly looking forward to writing a genuine thank you letter for some time now for all the your kindnesses. It is my chance to tell you just how much you mean to me and how much you have enriched my academic life since I met you.

My first classes with you were during a very difficult term, a term where I had bitten off more than I could chew in course credits and research papers. Never having an inclination to study Latin America before, I signed on for two courses to satisfy a requirement. I know see that it was a different requirement your classes fulfilled, because I had pushed myself to my limit and beyond and succeeded. I realized a lot of that was because of you. The reading load in combination with my other classes I, of course, complained about privately. I memorized summaries of those readings for you Spiritual Conquest class for my midterm just hoping it would suffice and not knowing your expectations. As a quiet guy, it is easy to seem intimidating, but I soon learned different about you. To my surprise there was a type written response from you on my returned test.

All my education has been for two very important reasons that I have now realized: 1) I love learning and working hard. 2) I desired recognition for that work. Not rewards or accolades. Not even the grades, which I learned a long time ago were meaningless if I did not feel like I proved myself. I had to prove my integrity and my ability in order to really enjoy a letter grade. Like any other occupation or job, I went to class every day because I loved it. Loved it even when it was hard or brain-numbingly exhausting. I began to really like a subject I never thought of before.

And your little typed note was more than I had received from so many other professors who I sometimes think didn't even read my papers. You are different than those professors who lose sight of the reason they are where they are, and I knew from that day that you were different. You were like how I hoped to be one day for someone else. So often students just take the bare minimum and miss out on the relationships of a collegial career, because they too lose sight of the reason they are there. Partying is of course great in college, but I did that in high school and lost interest fast. Perhaps getting married young aged me, or maybe it is just part of my character. But I do know that creating meaningful relationships with others and finding meaning in life experiences is what life is about wherever you are at. My definition of a good college experience is different I suppose.

Whenever I'm not challenged, I seek out more or the next big hurdle. I suppose at the back of my mind is the frenetic voice tallying my accomplishments to put on grad school applications, but it is a small voice. I think my passion for learning a subject I love and sharing with people like you who listen and who get it (and me) makes it worth the work.

So a year ago I signed on for your seminar because I trusted that I would be challenged in your class and that I could prove myself once again. It wasn't the subject which attracted me. It was your teaching style, your open mindedness, and your gentle encouragement which has always allowed me to be creative. Thinking at the beginning of the term I could never write a 20 pages paper, I surprised myself. I was absorbed in my research and dedicated to my paper. The pages came easily when I was passionate about my topic, but also when I knew your expectations weren't cripplingly high nor exorbenately low. I trusted you would gauge my success by my abilities, and many times thought I would fail.

But I didn't-- and here we are a year later with so much more under my belt. A conference paper (which I thought I would bomb), a thesis (I never thought I would get off the ground), and graduation coming. You took me under your wing at the Ethnohistory conference, and I felt at home with you and Stephanie and all the other Mesoamerican enthusiasts. It was a path in life which felt good and right, and my epiphany in realizing my direction in life was a painful one. Even I deal with serious fears of inadequacy and with so many telling me how hard it is to become a professor I was considering not following that life. But I was changed after those few fun days (because yes it was fun to hear about primodial documents), and I know this path will be tough. I also know I have what it takes to keep the reason for doing it all always in mind: because I love it. Why write a thesis and as you said inflict it upon myself? Because I love it. I know I'll continue to love the work despite the obstacles if I have mentors and supporters like you.

My family all know your name because I'll say things about "Bob" this or "Bob" that. They'll ask, "Well, what did Bob say?" because they know you are an important figure in my life. My mom once even said during a moment of my own self-doubt, "Yeah and you and I both know Bob wouldn't let you think that about yourself." She is right. You are a great source of inspiration and encouragement I will always be thankful for. You go above and beyond by getting to know me, by caring about my future, and by carefully reading pages of my work that I find to be akin to nails scratching chalk boards.

I'll miss our chats about movies, books, travels, and life. I'll miss it all, but don't think I'm saying goodbye. I'm not going anywhere and I plan to know you for a long time. You have made a lasting impression on me both in school and out. I'll treasure your friendship and mentorship as long as I live.