Wow I'm Graduating...

“I Shelly Andrews, hereby leave to Tomy, Jessie, and Elizabeth the understanding that it has been one of the great honors of my career to have worked with you four different years (6, 9, 11, and 12)!  You are wonderfully capable and empathetic young people.  I wish you nothing but happiness.  To my seventh period AP World class: You made my day 1, every day 1.  You will be missed.  Carpe diem, bon voyage and see ya on the flip side”  

I was told there was something in the school’s newspaper I had to read, but I didn’t expect this.  I almost cried in anatomy class after reading this.  Mrs. Andrews really has been a base for my whole school experience.  No matter how different each year seemed, I knew I had someone who I could count on as my teacher.  As the will says, yes I had her in 6^th grade, the only year she taught in middle school.  Though I don’t have that many memories, I remember analyzing pictures and trying to discern the hidden meanings. I guess she was training us from a young age.  

In high school I had her in World History 1.  I don’t know how she put up with me as a smart aleck freshman.  I know for a fact I tested her nerves many times, but she persisted and made that class awesome.  I had her again for U.S. History, which I have to say is what I consider my true history class.  World I knew most of it before, but I knew nothing about the U.S.  I talked before about how she taught me about themes, which plays a vital role in my thinking.  When I learned she was going to teach AP World History, it was one of my absolute requirements for senior year.  I had to walk up to guidance and explain to them why I would deviate from my path just to take an “unnecessary” class.  

WHAP was a class filled with pretty much her handpicked favorite students.  This alone made us realize the year was going to be awesome.  Barely anybody was in there for a diploma or AP requirement, just to have another year with her as our teacher.  Zach, who should be reputed as one of the greatest skippers, refused to skip WHAP.  

This respect and appreciation didn’t go one way, she had the same feeling for us.  One day I was absent and, since I’m not used to being absent, forgot to tell Mrs. Andrews.  I heard later she ran to the office to make sure I was ok since it seemed only some horrible event could have stopped me from coming to her class.  I was so touched, apologizing profusely the next class period.  When I learned that we would be taking AP tests in a room with tiny desks that didn’t help left handed people and told her, she went up to Nelson and told him off, telling him to plan better next year so the problem would not arise again.  She came to our Academic Team matches to cheer us on, sometimes even becoming impromptu judge.  She was always willing to listen to our problems and give us advice about our futures, especially helpful for me since I’m going to UVA.  Maybe I should ask her for her letter of recommendation to see what she wrote about me; Elizabeth read hers and loved it.  

The feelings in her will are mutual.  Elizabeth, Jessie, and I are blessed to have her as our teacher for four years.  She was compelling as a teacher, and caring as a person.  She made history not a chore and one of my favorite subjects.  She took the time to know us as individuals and be flexible with us.  As Elizabeth says “The first thing I’m going to do after graduation is add Mrs. Andrews on Facebook.”  Our teacher and friend, Mrs. Andrews will always be my first memory when I think about my happy times at Sherando.