Another September 1st has come and gone without me embarking on the Hogwarts Express. 🙁 I will never fail to be just a little heartbroken. Not like a full break. Just a lil heart crack.
This year there have been some really great commemorations in honor of the 20th anniversary of these marvelous books. A while back there was a movement of people sharing their first encounters with Harry Potter. Of course I remembered mine, but hadn’t thought about it in a really long time.
When I took the time to remember and truly think about how I was introduced to this story that quite literally changed my life, I couldn’t stop crying. I felt such gratitude for the story, but also gratitude for the person who first put that unknown, pre-craze book into my little hands.
Finally when I stopped sobbing (months later) I realized my gratitude was long overdue. I wrote her an email. I am certain she will find it absolutely ridiculous, but I hope it makes her feel good. She deserves it.
Hi there Mrs. Condie!!
My name is Danica and 20 years ago I was a loud little bookworm in your 4th and 5th grade class at Mapleton Elementary. I have so many fond memories of you and those years. I remember a mock trial, Romeo and Juliet, and kind, loving correction when I was mean to another student. You encouraged my writing, too, which I think of often now that I call myself a “writer.” I absolutely loved you and you are the easy answer to the “who was the best teacher you ever had?” survey.
Your dedication and my burning love for school made my college major decision easy – of course I’ll be a teacher! I used a scholarship at BYU to become a secondary education teacher and taught for 4 happy years. I loved every second of it. Well, almost every second of it. 🙂 I taught up until my due date of my first daughter, and I think about teaching all the time. When will the back to school nightmares stop? I’ve been out for 4 years and I still wake up in a cold sweat that the bell is ringing and I have no lesson plans. Haha.
The real reason I am FINALLY reaching out to thank you is because it’s the 20 year anniversary of Harry Potter. That may seem silly to you, but you have no idea how important it is to me. It sounds dramatic but the Harry Potter books shaped me, brought me comfort, encouraged me, and created friendships. I actually have a Harry Potter Book Club. It’s ridiculous and amazing. With the global popularity of Harry Potter I’m sure I would have come across it eventually. But it wasn’t eventually.
It was because YOU gave me your personal copy. Do you remember that? It wasn’t part of the classroom library. It was your copy. It was before all the hype, before everyone had heard that name. You pulled me aside and said “ok this is my personal copy so don’t tell anyone but I think you are going to love this book.” It actually makes me cry to think about it. You let me borrow your personal copy, proactively introducing me to something that literally changed my life.
I can’t say thank you enough. I’m sure you’ve forgotten all about this but I wanted you to know, 20 years later, that what you do makes a difference. In your classroom I felt loved, respected, and smart. You gave me such a priceless gift. I’ll never forget it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Danica Budge Holdaway
️ (Mapleton Elementary 1999-2001)
*a pic of how you might remember me and what I look like with my little family today
One thought on “To My Fourth Grade Teacher”
Stop 😭😭 i have chills. Please Marco Polo me if she writes back because I need an update on this for the sake of my heart