Sometimes, I think about my ninth grade year and feel regret wash over me. As a freshman, I was too naive to fully appreciate Señora Garcia. I was too young to realize that one day, Spanish 2 would end, and I would have to move up another level without her. 

I took her limitless retakes, laidback teaching style, and oddly useful acronyms for granted. I remember celebrating El Día de Los Muertos by decorating cookies and watching Coco, playing Quizlet and Kahoot in a boisterous, competitive room, and listening to her crack jokes with my classmates as if it were just yesterday. 

From the stinkbug tally and her sunshine-filled smiles to the strange “head, shoulders, knees and toes” cat song, I finally understand how important of a role she played in making my first year of high school so enjoyable. Without Garcia, I would have likely been unable to see the beauty of Spanish and all it has to offer. 

By now, it’s too late to go back in time, but she will always be one of my most cherished teachers and take the prize for being my favorite class of the day. 

Ms. Garcia, thank you so much for everything you do. I promise to never, ever forget SAFE WATERS!