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There I was, looking for where I was supposed to sit while talking with my friends. "There it is." I said, and so I sat down. Inside of me I was very nervous, and I didn't know what she would be like. Would she be nice? Would she be mean? All the older kids said that she was the toughest, meanest teacher in the whole school. I don't know what she will be like, but all I knew was I was just about to find out.
That mean old teacher, well, she became my favorite teacher ever. She is the best teacher anybody could have. She is the nicest, hardest, and the most terrific teacher anybody could have. Yes, she was really hard at times in her class, actually almost all of the time. Everyone made it through her class though. She makes the learning environment a very fun place to be. Everyone in her class is always anxious to go back to school the next day. Everybody loves Ms. Aiken.
Ms. Aiken has fun little projects every month. These range from in-class games, to in-class stores, and even to fun book reports. She makes everybody excited to do the things that she has him or her do, while learning at the same time without even knowing it! The best thing that she does to all of her students is teach them to be able to survive middle school or junior high. If I didn't have her as my teacher, I'd probably have "B's" and "C's" at the best instead of a 4.0 GPA. She teaches her kids to do their best, get it done on time, and try to have fun while doing it!
Ms. Aiken is the best fifth grade teacher ever! She has had a huge impact on all of the lucky fifth graders that went to Hillcrest Elementary School.
Justin Christensen
Dear KSL/ Zions Bank Teacher Feature,
My name is Cristian Antonio Gutierrez. I am in 7th grade and go to Highland Middle School in Ogden, Utah. I currently have a 4.0 GPA and honors in my classes. But as far as I know this would not be possible if it weren't for my teacher. She pushed and got me through 5th grade. I have no doubt that my 5th grade teacher Ms. Aiken deserves this award. She was always defending me and keeping me out of trouble.
In 4th grade I was asked to test into a program that taught at an advanced level. I failed to get in. But when I was asked to test again into ALA again, I thought about declining it because I had failed the year before. But when I met Ms. Aiken, she gave me an inspiration and confidence to try again.
She made me feel better about my self. Kids would call me racial slurs that lowered my self esteem. It made me feel horrible about myself. They also made fun of me because I was a little over weight. She told me to stay in from recess because she wanted to talk to me. She said that those kids were wrong. That I was good at sports and school work. She said that what mattered was that I had a kind heart and humble mind. Whenever I am down, I hear those words and it changes me It makes me feel better to hear those words.. My life would not be the same with out her.
She is a great woman and teacher. Ms. Aiken is a teacher that has never been thanked for what she does for students. Even students that had her a couple years back, get help from her. They see her and ask her questions that they need help with in school. Ms Aiken has earned this award because she is an amazing teacher.
I know that every student that had her or has her, is given confidence. There lives are changed completely. I really want to repay her for everything she did for me. You guys can help me give this to her. Her students and I would appreciate it. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Sincerely,
Cristian A. Gutierrez
