Despite the irrefutable decline in American education, budget cuts, and the incessant risk of school violence unseen anywhere else, American teachers everywhere are still pushing on, working tirelessly to help the next generation of students become functioning citizens in an ever-changing world. Equipping them with the skills necessary for problem solving and critical thinking in addition to mentoring students on their journey through the education system, these modern heroes assist in turning the rusting cogs that propel society forward.

Within the school environment, our teachers do their best to help students with their work and help them understand district-mandated material deemed necessary for their education. Aside from being educators, they offer support and guidance to their students by helping them develop non-academic skills such as self-esteem. These useful skills extend far beyond a classroom, and this sense of serving as mentors where applicable can make a lasting impact on the well-being of their students. Because of this, they take part in a profession that not only requires compassion for students, but also emotional intelligence. In doing so, they aid in strengthening the sentiment that humans are emotional creatures.

“Like a candle which lights others, and burns out itself, i.e. an author” was an example of a simple simile used in a 1764 book by Charles Wiseman. Many reiterations of the quote replace ‘author’ with ‘teacher’ and this interpretation could not be closer to the truth. Teachers, like everyone else in a workforce, lead dual lives, existing within the blurred dichotomy between their academic and personal lives, which can make it hard to constantly care for both students and their life outside of the academic world, may that be family, hobbies, or other personal goals. At times, it can be very difficult to find a balance that works for them. Think about everything they do to make their classroom a place where students can be led in the right direction. The posters and motivational messages plastered on the walls came out of their savings. For all they do, the least we could do in return is prove to teachers that we are grateful for their efforts the same way that they care about our futures. You could give teachers your appreciation this year during National Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6th to May 10th. There is no one way to show appreciation, and most teachers will take into account your endeavors to show them gratitude they truly deserve.