Dear Rising Ninth Graders, 

Congratulations on succeeding in doing what it takes to make it to this milestone!  Your hard work and persistence to rise above a variety of obstacles in order to get to this moment have paid off!  

I am excited to share this milestone year with you; it’s my retirement year!  Like you, it has taken me many years of hard work and persistence to get to this special time in my life!  I’d like to share a few things that have helped me along the way, in hopes that they might help you.   

Have gratitude. You have had years of encouragement from many people who surround you – family, friends, teachers, coaches, neighbors and others in your community. Take a moment to reflect on all that they have done for and with you. Take the time to tell them how grateful you are for their care and support. The character trait of being grateful will always serve you well!  

Be a person of integrity, be positive, and have humility.  By now you’ve learned that things in life don’t always come easy nor are they always fair. What really matters is how you handle getting through those tough times. Look for the good, stay positive, surround yourself with good and positive people. If you fall, pick yourself up;  learn from your mistakes. If you succeed, do it with humility. Above all, do everything with integrity. That is, be honest and hang on to your strong moral principles to always do the right thing. The character traits of being positive, having humility, and being a person of integrity will never let you down as you navigate the worst and best of times.  

Be kind. One of my favorite quotes often attributed to poet Maya Angelo is, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  Be friendly, generous, considerate, help others, don’t act entitled, choose your battles wisely, use your manners, smile, and sing happy songs! These acts of kindness will help you arrive gracefully where you want to be in life. You’ll always be able to feel as if you made a difference in the lives of others when you know you’ve been kind in all situations.

Be strong. Don’t confuse gratitude, positivity, humility, integrity and kindness with being too soft.  It takes a strong-minded person to succeed at having these character traits, and to be able balance them with all that life will present to you. As long as you stay committed to working at being a good person, the puzzle pieces for the rest of your life will all fit when and where they should! 

If you’ve had me for a teacher then you know I have a lot of silly sayings. My favorite is, “Act like how you are supposed to be acting.”  Please use my quote as often as you’d like.  It can keep you from looking back and saying, “I could have or should have done different or better.” Best wishes for a lifetime of good health, success, prosperity, love, and joy!  

With fond memories, 

Mrs. Peterson