Dear Mr.

Maziar Sadeghi, May 2012

Bonjour, how are you? Omidvaram hame chi kbub bashe. I bet you are surprised to hear from me!
Period seven Geometry class. Where do I start? When you weren't teaching us Geometry, you would
say random facts about the stars, the space, or the universe. You were born on December 26 in Iran. You
go to San Diego every other weekend. You can speak/understand a little bit of Français. I remember
when you got in a motorcycle accident in October of 2009. I remember last year when you grew your hair
out into an afro. It was so curly! You should do that again. :) Remember when Graham spilled Horchata
all over your backpack? I remember when you showed us a video in class of you and Leila Forouhar.

Mr. Maziar Sadeghi, be kelaset naresidam. I miss hearing you scream at the class and after you
were done you would burst out laughing, almost never staying serious. I miss hearing you complain about
your BMW when it had a nail in its tire and the whole time during the class it bothered you so much and
you kept looking at it. You have the eyes of an eagle! I miss you getting overpowered by the smell of your
armpit while you were teaching on the board. Remember when someone in class said, “Is that how you
shower?” Haha. You said that deodorants didn't exist in Iran. Hearing you and Mrs. Mochir talk in the
most beautiful language ever and and how everyone had no clue what you guys are saying. I remember
when the movie Prince of Persia came out and you put the sign up on your door. Man asheghe Iran
hastam! But my most memorable moment was when Kimberly said to you, “I love you.” You asked her,
“Are you still with James?” Saloum turned red and the class was hysterical. You said, “Saloum, nothing is
forever.” Actually, one thing does go on forever. Try getting the actual value of Pi. xD

This may sound hard to believe Mr. Sadeghi, but I've always hated math. I dreaded math. But on
the other hand, you somehow reversed it and made me want to learn it more. You made it seem like it was
possible to learn it. You made Geometry fun, and I enjoyed coming to your class every day. I was
bestowed with the chance to come to the realization that I wouldn't have gone anywhere in math if it
wasn't for you. The memory cues you had made things a lot simpler, and you had a natural way of
teaching concepts to us. I know students were a pain in the butt, but you always had a way of controlling
and handling us. You are a wonderful teacher and person. So, I thank you. Thank you for repeating
formulas, concepts, and methods a thousand times. Thank you for having a sense of humor. Thank you for
all your teaching, time, and effort. Thank you for having given me the motivation to learn. Thank you for
moving me up front because I couldn't see the board when I sat in the back. Thank you for that one time
when you dismissed me out early because I had a lunch date with Graham. Thank you for putting up with
educational technology that is too stubborn to work half the time.

I remember when you first got a smart board. It took so much time to write a problem and it
would've been easier and faster if you had just written down the problem on the board. But you made use
of it because it was expensive. I remember when you farted one time in class because you ate a chicken
salad. I remember those times when it was hard to distinguish if your “s” was a “5”. When you were
eating a salad and it wasn't a salad that Mrs. Mochir made, but one you that you made all by yourself. I'm
so proud of you! I really wish I had you as my teacher for another year, you were so awesome and funny.
I remember when you talked about how eating raw onions is not good for the esophagus and how we
should brush our tongue really good. I see you being Dr. Sadeghi some day. :) I'll let you go for now. I
just wanted to write to you and wish you movafagh bashid for the rest of your time teaching at Bell-Jeff,
and on studying Psychology at UCLA, and all the best for the future. And when you do try to become an
actual psychologist, remember to shoot for the moon. Because even if you miss, you will land among the
stars. You are very intelligent and you can do it! :) Motmaenam ke khoob emtahan midi. Shoma movafagh
khahi shod, negaran nabashid. Movazebe khodet bash.

With love and affection,

Vanessa Paula Zaki
Dear Mr. Antonio Kim, May
2012

Hey you! How are you? I trust that you are well. It's been a while, huh? Where do I start with
you? Well, I remember when the first time that you talked to me was my sophomore year. I really
appreciated it and will never forget it because I didn't have you as my teacher and you really didn't know
me at all yet. Do you remember what you said to me? You wished me a happy birthday. I asked you
“How did you know?” You said that one of the teachers told you that. I remember chatting with you on
Facebook just before summer school started for AP Chemistry. I told you that I was going to be in your
class and you told me to work very hard.

At the beginning of the year, for reasons I cannot fathom, you told our class that you're not very
smart. After sitting in your classroom for nearly nine months, I have to set it straight. I think you fool
yourself too much. You are profiundly intelligent. You just don't give yourself nearly enough credit. Mr.
Kim, you are such a great teacher, you know that? I thought so from the very beginning, from the first
second that I sat down on the uncomfortable stools in the Chem Lab where we learned formulas that
made up the universe. I remember on the very first day of summer school, you told everyone of us to say
our name, our animal, and something about us that no one would ever guess if we had a conversation with
them. I remember yours was: Mr Kim, penguin, and you were born in Brazil. You exploded sodium with
water that day too. I remember the day that we took our midterm you arrived 2 hours late because your
alarm didn't go off. I remember when you said that your greatest fear is crushed snails. I remember when
you said that in UCLA you and your roommates made a bet on who can eat 10 McRibs, but you guys
never did it. I remember when you said when we take finals in college we should sit down in the library
and study for 4 hours. I remember when you said that maybe 200 years from now we might become
aliens. We would breathe through our skin, our eyes would become bigger because of the darkness, our
skin would turn green because of malnutrition and we would be skinnier, remember that?

I remember when we were in the car coming to school from Youth Day, we played the Famous
Person Name Game. You taught us how to play Bridge. I remember when you rated Bell-Jeff, you gave it
a 3 and ½. I remember on the day after your birthday you asked us if you should give a girl flowers even
if it's after Valentine's Day. Her name was Lydia. I remember when you told us that it is very important to
live in the moment and that it is important to talk about yourself. I remember when you said it's important
to take the time out to pray and thank God every morning. Mr. Kim, you are an inspiration to live life to
the fullest and to live life like there is no tomorrow. You taught me that life can only be found in the
present moment. I just want you to know that I truly enjoyed being in your class every day and that I miss
it, especially summer school in the library. Best. Summer. Ever. You made Chemistry class an
entertaining place to be, learn, and laugh. You worked so hard just to teach us and help us understand.
You are a wonderful teacher and don't let anybody tell you any different. You allowed us to have
experiences in class that we may have never been able to on our own. Like exploding sodium with water,
working with solutions, chemicals, and titration, etc. Thank you for doing an excellent job on teaching
and for the brilliant year. I can't tell you how much of a great teacher you are. It was truly a privilege and
honor to have been in your class and I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity. I'll let you go for
now. I just wanted to write to you and wish you good luck for the rest of your time teaching at Bell-Jeff
and all the best for the future. Take care and God Bless.

P.S. Say hi to Sungah for me at Sung Sam!

With love and affection,

Vanessa Paula Zaki
Dear Mrs. Jeanie Essa,

Hey gorgeous one! How are you? I trust that you are well. I know you know that I am well known
for my letters. So here I go... Where do I begin? I found guidance, friendship, discipline, and love all
molded into one person. This person is you, Mrs. Essa. You are so kind and giving, and you are filled
with so much empathy and understanding. You are made with a heart of gold and you're one of the nicest
and warmest people I have ever met.

You're an American bread white girl from Minnesota with some Swedish blood and your husband
is Lebanese. You met each other in Colorado. I remember when I ran into him at Crispy Crust. He said
that your favorite pizza is artichoke. The only fight you guys had ever was in your first year of marriage
when you went out with some friends and you came back he was upset that you didn't call him to tell him
where you went. You don't give him your paycheck and he doesn't give you his. You went to Moose Lake
High School. I remember the very first time that I walked into your office was when I was a freshman and
it was the first week of school. It was about how I didn't go to the class that I was supposed to be in
because I didn't understand how the schedule worked.

You taught us Life Skills where we watched a movie about lepers, wrote a resume, and how to make
the most of our high school experience. I remember when you had Laryngitis my freshman year and when
you received an award for Youth Day 2009. That was also the year of the summer that I emailed you
while you were in Minnesota and asked you so many questions and made the question about my schedule
more longer than it ever needed to be. The emails would have never ended if you didn't stop replying to
my messages. Oh well, I was a very naive sophomore.

I remember working with you at the NHS Boutique, when I was a lector at the masses, when I was
chosen as an alternate for HOBY, the Adopt-A-Family program, Thanksgiving dinner, Right to Life
league, May Crowning, etc. Some of the few good times I've had at Bell-Jeff. I remember when you said
that it takes you 45 minutes to get ready in the morning. You go to Atelier SAV for haircuts (it is wayyy
too expensive over there!) But it's worth it if they make your hair look that good. I remember when we
took the religion final for the first semester and I was the only one who's test started with #68, and it was
all jumbled up. That was so weird! Weird things always happened when I was around. Like when the
video broke for the Stations of the Cross, and when I asked you a question about the letter writing
assignment and you pulled your drawer and the knob fell off. Haha. I remember when you said your
husband and someone else was talking about porn and what they thought of it, and you thought they
meant “corn” and you said, “I love corn too!”

Mrs. Essa, I want to thank you for all of the generous work you do for Bell-Jeff and you have no
idea how much all you have done is greatly appreciated. I will never again meet another teacher as
wonderful as you. I hope that someday, I'll be able to show someone the kindness and support you've
shown me. And without you, my experience at Bell-Jeff wouldn't have been half the experience. Words
cannot really express my gratitude. It was truly a privilege and honor to have been in your class, and I am
very grateful to have had the opportunity. As I grow into a woman, I can grow into a better person, a
person full of love, faith, and hope. For that is what you are, Mrs. Essa. I will surely come back and visit
Bell-Jeff to do volunteer work at the Boutique and Adopt-A-Family, and attend Youth Day. Thank you
for everything. I hope you have a good time in Minnesota this summer. I'll let you go for now. I just
wanted to write to you and wish you good luck for the rest of your time teaching at Bell-Jeff and for the
future. Take care and God bless you, Eli, Michael, and Tony.

With love and affection,

Vanessa Paula Zaki
Dear Mrs. Aston, May
2012

HELLO little lady! Happy birthday!!! How art thou? I trust that thou art well. Where do I begin?
Mrs. Aston, You were my very first teacher when I came to Bell-Jeff, you know that? Summer school
2008 when we read “And then there were none.” Best summer ever. I remember when you read the “blue
book” to us, it was about how to tell if someone likes you. After that, I had to buy the book. I just had to
buy it. I remember being so scared of you, and I probably still am. Just kidding. I remember when you
were coming by and I turned away. You said “Vanessa is scared of me.” I remember when you asked us
several times in summer school if any of our parents wanted to have a conference with you, and I never
had the guts to come up to you and tell you that. My mom was the only one who came, and she told me
that you said that I was so pretty but very quiet.

I remember when I met your son Oliver when I was bell ringing. I remember when I worked with
you during the Shakespeare competition. I remember spending time with you during tutoring for the
Great Gatsby, and I was laughing a lot. You said that that was the first time you've ever heard me laugh
for the whole year and that I was quiet as a mouse. I remember when you asked me if I had any relatives
in Egypt because of the attack that happened. And I was thinking, “How did you know that I was
Egyptian?” Mrs. Aston, it is said that the best teachers don't teach from the book, but straight from the
heart. You are the shining example of what every student wants their teacher to be. You explain
everything so well, and you never bore us. I enjoyed coming to your class every day because you made
English class an entertaining place to be, learn, and laugh, Your worked so hard to teach us and to help us
understand, and you worked way beyond what you had to and I'll never forget that.

At the beginning of the year, you gave each one of us a piece of paper. I remember a couple of the
questions said, “Tell me something that you want to tell me.” and “Tell me a food that you suggest that I
should learn how to cook.” I think you should learn how to cook Mechado. It's a filipino dish served with
rice. The things we learned from the books and stories we read, like The Scarlet Letter, The Crucible, The
Great Gatsby, have altered my way of thinking, as well as the very nature of my mind forever. Mrs.
Aston, you are a beautiful person outside and inside, and it is your smile and personality that make you
truly gorgeous. I remember all of the little things too. Like when you said that you like pain, that you
gave birth to Oliver by a midwife, that when a woman delivers a baby she looses a lot of hair, 'No poo'
shampoo, that your father is a tall man with big hands, you had braces, your husband is so skinny that he
wears your pants, those times in class when you literally patted yourself on the back, and how we always
used to wave each other when we saw each other. You gave birth to Michael David Cosby Hawkeye
Aston on November 20, 2010.

Mrs. Margaret Ann LaGuardia Aston, if I never said it to you before, I would like to say it now,
though I wish it were in person. Thank you in every possible way that could ever be imagined. Surely, I
may have said thank you from time to time, but they were generally cold and flat, and we both know you
deserve more than that, so allow me to change it. Thank you for being so awe-inspiring, profoundly
intelligent, strong, exceptional, and caring. Thank you for a brilliant year. Thank you for your teaching,
time, and effort. Thank you for doing an exceptional job on teaching. I can't tell you how much of a good
teacher you are. Thank you for being Mrs. Aston. Because without you, my experience at Bell-Jeff
wouldn't have been half the experience. You are a wonderful teacher and I am so lucky to have met you. I
miss you so much, and good luck with everything. You are and forever will be missed, and your legacy
will last forever. It was truly a privilege and an honor to have been in your class, and I am very grateful to
have had the opportunity. On this special day of your birth, I hope that you know that you are surrounded
by people who love you, admire you, and would do anything for you. I'll let you go for now. I just wanted
to wish you a happy birthday and wish you good luck for the rest of your time teaching at Notre Dame
and all the best for the future. I hope you come to my graduation on May 27th! Take care and God Bless.

With love and affection,

Vanessa Paula Zaki

Dear Ms. Suzanne Britt, May 2012

Hi there! How are you? I trust that you are well. Ms. Britt, I just wanted to thank you for
being a great Health and Art teacher. Thank you for opening the world of art to me. You nurtured
my creativity and taught me to appreciate art. At the beginning of sophomore year, for reasons I
cannot understand, I didn't think I was going to make it through the year because I thought I
wasn't creative or a good drawer myself. But after sitting in your classroom after nearly nine
months, I became a great artist and I owe it in great part to you. You are a wonderful teacher and
I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to have been in your class. I took more out of
your class than I have ever taken out of an Art class before. The things we learned how to do,
like mold and paint our own Gargoyle, design our own Fashion mazagine, making a book of “5
things we can do with...”, creating our own masks, have altered my way of thinking, as well as
the nature of my mind forever. I wish you well. I'll let you for now. I just wanted to write to you
and wish you good luck for the rest of your time teaching at Bell-Jeff and for the future. Take
care God bless.

With love and affection,

Vanessa Paula Zaki

Dear Ms. Erika Turnquist, May 2012

Hello Queen of English! How art thou? I trust that thou art well. I bet you are surprised to hear from me!
Where do I begin? It was difficult not to be affected by you positive aura and demeanor that permeated throughout
your classroom day after day. Your optimism beamed so brightly, like a constant ray of sunshine gleaming down
each window, both inside and outside of the classroom. Being in your class was always enlightening and may I even
say, it brightened my day and put a smile on my face. You always find unique and interesting ways to inspire us
students to want to excel in our studies. The methods you use to teach us are like the best things since sliced bread,
like Word Wizard presentations, decorating our masks for the Cask of Amontillado, doing Shakespeare plays,
listening to an audio for R&J, giving us candy as a reward, using flash cards, cornell notes, Madlibs,
yourhomework.com. etc. I took more out of your class than I have ever taken out of an English class before. The
things we learned from the books and stories we read, like “TKMB”, Romeo and Juliet, The Raven, and
Shakespearean sonnets, have altered my way of thinking and the nature of my mind forever. I remember when you
said this teacher from another school was criticizing your teaching, and you asked her, “Well, are they learning the
material well?” Ms. Turnquist, you an excellent teacher and don't let anybody tell you different. I can't tell you how
much of a great teacher you are. You also taught us Etiquette and Life Strategies in Life Skills. Your classroom is
the most beautifully decorated of all.

Ms. Turnquist, I want to personally thank you for being the best English teacher I've ever had. It is not only
your perfect grammar that makes you stand out, but it is your smile and cheerful personality that makes students
want to continuously learn from you. You don't teach from the book, but you teach straight from the heart. You put
your heart and soul into teaching and I want you to know that I appreciate you for that and that I truly enjoyed your
class. Whilst you have been a friendly teacher, you shared jokes and stories with us in class, like when you told us
about how you and your friend brought lunch to school and someone ate from it everyday. Then you guys put
something in your sandwich to make them stop eating from it, (I think it was dog poop?) and you guys saw
afterwards that the sandwich was half-eaten (eww!). They never touched your food again.

I remember when you talked about this guy from Rosemont Middle School who had autism and was running
down the street butt naked. I remember when you said that you lost your phone at your school and you were
thinking that someone who found it should return it because whenever you found phones you always returned them.
And fortunately, someone returned it. I remember when you said that the guys you date are always half
White/Hispanic. I remember emailing you April 17th of every year greeting you for your birthday. I remember when
you gave my mom a nice pen to give to me to help my atrocious handwriting(Thank you!). I remember when I
bought a lemon cupcake scrub from you at the NHS Boutique. I remember when you said that whenever there is a
project, you would rather turn it in late and do a good job then turn it in on time and do poorly on it. And I have to
point out that I don't think I have actually learned proper English grammar ever since 9th grade! With my poor
grammar, due to years of having my English Workshop book accumulate dust in my locker for nine months straight,
I hope you can understand the point that I'm trying to get across.

I also want you to know that all of the hard work that you do for Bell-Jeff is greatly appreciated. And it is
teachers like you that makes students want to get up every morning to go to school. They look forward to each day
because you make every day so exciting and a breath of fresh air. So once again, thank you, I hope this means as
much to you as it does to me. It was truly a privilege to have been in your class and I am forever grateful to have
had the opportunity. And I will never forget that international overseas U.K. trip where we all practically lived off of
our suitcase! You fussing with Michael: “What do you want me to do, carry 17 passports with me all the time?”
*Grabs Starbucks frap* and says: “When is this trip going to be over!?” LOL! I'll let you go for now. I just wanted
to write to you and wish you good luck for the rest of your time teaching at Bell-Jeff, and all the best for the future.
Take care and God bless.

And one more thing... Quiet cayote!

With love and affection,

Vanessa Paula Zaki

Dear Mr. Steve Bergen, May

2012

HAY~OOOOOOHHH!! Well little man, how are you doing? I trust that you are well. Where do I
start? I've had you as my teacher for 1 year and a half. I remember when you told me that it is weird to see
me driving. I love how every time somebody asks you how old your son was, you are so good with
counting and you can say exactly how many months and days he is quickly. Your son, Andrew Patrick
Bergen, was born on a Tuesday, on May 11, 2010. at 8:21 P.M. I was sophomore and I wasn't yet taught
by the coolest History teacher ever.

Mr. Bergen, I know I made you upset, and you have every right to be. But I want you to know
that I am sincerely sorry for disappointing you so many times and that you are a shining example of what
a true East Coast Trip chaperone should be. I loved all of the nicknames you called me, like “V-money,”
“Z-Bone”, “Zimbony”, but my favorite one is “Vanessa's silent but deadly.” I remember you would
always say that I'm kinda quiet, but really smart. I remember when you wrote me a Kairos letter. It meant
so much to me and I want to thank you for that. In the letter, you wrote that you knew it took a lot of
courage for me to come on Kairos and that you wanted me to know that you admired me for that and that
you truly enjoyed having me in class.

I do hope you know I really enjoyed being in your class as well and that it's truly been an honor
to have been the only person in your class to not be allowed to vote in the 2012 election. You never failed
to put a smile on everyone's face and there was never a dull moment. I looked forward to each day and
I've now realized how hard it will be to not get up in the morning and never hear you say “Vanessa, you
have 2 minutes left!” again. I loved all of your stories and anecdotes. You partially deaf and on your right
ear. You went to the University of California, Davis. You talked about a girl whose teeth were pretty
messed up and they had to break her jaw and realign it and she had to eat from a straw for 3 weeks. When
you talked about Marlee Matlin and how you have a huge crush on her. “Not fire, not ice,” is engraved in
your ring and was your wedding song. You hair just had gel in it and you have had the same hairdresser
since childhood. I remember when you said you dated only one girl throughout college and you got
engaged to her. But then you met April, and that changed everything. I remember when you showed us a
movie in class of the best movie ever, The Shawshank Redemption. “Hope is a good thing, maybe the
best of things, and good things never die.” You are afraid of tomatoes. I remember at DMV you
memorized the chart because one of your eyes are blurry. Mr. Bergen, if I never said it before I would like
to say it now, though I wish it were in person. Thank you. Thank you for being so inspirng, amazing,
intelligent, dedicated, and outstanding. Thank you for having a sense of humor. Thank you for being Mr.
Steven Charles Bergen. I lived the Fourth because of you. You taught me that if I want to find God, don't
look up, look around. And now I don't look up to find God, I look at you Mr. Bergen, and everyone
around me.

You are not only a wonderful teacher, but an excellent father. Everybody you meet is lucky to be
in your path, especially April and Andrew. Your handsome son, Andrew, just turned 2 years old last
Friday and he looks just like you, with his petite frame and big, blue eyes. He is lucky to be just as
handsome as his father. I want to thank you for all of the generous work you do for Bell-Jeff, and you
have no idea how much all you have done is appreciated. You are the best Assistant Vice Principal, the
best Directer of the Kairos program, the best Jeopardy game host, the best Hitler impressionist of “Mein
Kampf!”, and the best chaperone in the world, I promise. I'll let you go for now. I just wanted to write to
you and wish you good luck for the rest of your time teaching at Bell-Jeff and for the future. Also, best of
luck with C.I.F. Division. God bless you and your family and may you continue living your Fourth. I
hope everything is going well with you, take care Mr. Bergen.

And one more thing.., “Easy, peasy, Japanesey”

Dear Dr. Colby James Boysen, May 2012

Hey Boysenberry! How are you? I trust that you are well. I bet you are surpised ot hear from me!
I remember that you were my adult leader for Kairos. One of my most memorable Kairos moments was
on that final day when we were receiving carnations. You hugged me and whispered something profound
in my ear that really touched my heart and I want you to know that it meant a lot to me. Up to this day
those heartfelt, kind words are still ringing in my ears. I remember when you said you have a tendency to
tap your car door every time you close it, because you're afraid of being shocked by static. I remember
when someone asked you if you plucked your eyebrows because they are so perfectly arched, and you
said that you don't, unless when you have hair in between them.

You told us stories about a 300 pound “Paul” who kept screaming “Shut up!” and “Mary” who
had homicidal thoughts. You told us about how your dad would say, “Is this a 10 year test? Are you going
to be angry about this 10 years from now?” “No.” “Then let it go.” *kick*. Your son's favorite joke is
“Knock, knock.” ”Who's there?” “Interrupting cow.” “Interrupting c―” “MOOOOOO!” When you
would say “Hurry up!” in my 2 languages: “Yallah!” and “Bilisan mo!” Congratulations on the new son!
A proud screaming baby was born onto this world covered in blood. He was born on a Sunday, at 12:58
in the morning, weighing 7 pounds and 2 ounces. This baby was named Lincoln August Boysen. I was
somewhere studying, sleeping, or dreading the AP Test. This is a new beginning in your life, so make
every moment count.

Dr. Boysen, I want to thank you for all of the generous work you do for Bell-Jeff, and you have
no idea how much all you do is appreciated. Thank you for all of your hard work, time, dedication, and
effort. No words can express my gratitude. Thank you for doing such an excellent job on teaching. You
taught me so much in just one year. I can't tell you how much of a great teacher you are. You deserve a
big reward for teaching those “knuc-kleheads” and even when they were a pain in the butt you had a good
way of handling them and staying poised. You are a wonderful teacher and you are profoundly intelligent.
It was truly a privilege and honor to have been in your class and I am forever grateful to have had the
opportunity. This isn't goodbye forever but more like so long.

I'll let you go for now. I just wanted to write to you and wish you good luck for the rest of your
time teaching at Bell-Jeff, and all the best for the future. We will be taking different paths, but no matter
where these paths may lead, I hope you know that you are truly amazing and I will never forget you.
Remember to shoot for the moon, because if you miss, you will land among the stars. You are not only an
outstanding teacher, but an excellent father. And everybody you meet is lucky to be in your path,
especially Tania, Ambrose Jeffrey Boysen, Jonas Francesco Boysen, and Lincoln August Boysen. God
bless you and your family and may you continue living your Fourth. You are all in my thoughts and
prayers, please keep me in yours. Keep up the hard work and dedication.

P.S. Advanced happy birthday on July 10th!

With love and affection,

Vanessa Paula Zaki

Cher Monsieur Fitzmichael Cadny, Mai 2012

Bonjour, ca va? J'espère que tu vas bien. When you weren't jiggling your keys in the hallway, you
would always go out of your way just to say hello to me and ask me how I am. You have no idea how
much I appreciate it and I thank you for that. Mr. Cadny, every time I see you I remember a time back
then just 4 years ago on the first day of my freshman year. I was sitting all by myself in the bench and you
were sitting next to me. You gave me a small lecture about how I should have friends. I will never forget
that. Even though I never had you as my teacher, except for Guard Block, I can tell that you are a great
teacher. I'll let you go for now. I just wanted to write to you and wish you good luck for the rest of your
time teaching at Bell-Jeff and for the future. Take care and God Bless. Reste comme tu es, a bientôt.

Cordialement,
Vanessa Paula Zaki

Dear Ms. Pat Boroughs, May 2012

Hi, how are you? I hope everything is going well with you. I bet you are surprised to hear from
me! Where do I start? You were my teacher last year when you subbed for Mrs. Aston's class. You taught
us The Crucible, and I remember little Kermit the Frog. Ms. Boroughs, every time you see me you always
take the time out to stop whatever you're doing justt to say hi to me and ask me how I am. I want you to
know I thank you for that and that I truly enjoyed having you as my teacher even if it was for a short
while. I enjoyed coming to your class every day because you made English class an entertaining place to
be, learn, and laugh, Your worked so hard to teach us and to help us understand, and you worked way
beyond what you had to and I'll never forget that.

I enjoyed coming to your class every day because you made English class an entertaining place to
be, learn, and laugh, Your worked so hard to teach us and to help us understand, and you worked way
beyond what you had to and I'll never forget that. The things I will surely miss from Bell-Jeff is you and
those little chats we had. Like asking me what college I am going to and if I do my own laundry. hen you
said that you could imagine me one day putting coins in the washing machine. Thank you for all of the
fun times and smiles. I have shared many happy memories with you that I will always remember and
cherish. The world's a better place for teachers like you, so caring, thoughtful, modest, and humble. I'll
let you go for now. I just wanted to write to you and wish you good luck for the rest of your time teaching
at Bell-Jeff and for the future.

With love and affection,

Vanessa Paula Zaki

Dear Mr. Sabatino Manente, May 2012

Ciao former Matador! Come stai? I hope this letter finds you are doing well. Where do I start?
You love Dino. I remember when a mosquito stung your right eye. When you commented on my
handwriting and how you professor told you that your handwriting looked like worms. Mr. Manente, this
is for every time that I forgot to say it and this is also sadly my last thank you. Grazie. Thank you for
sharing a banana and nuts with me in class. Thank you for having a sense of humor. Thank you for
putting up with my atrocious handwriting. Thank you for wearing the tie I gave to you. Thank you for
being a wonderful and witty Economics teacher. You always knew how to put a smile on my face and
made Economics class an entertaining place to be, learn, and laugh. It was truly a privilege to have been
in your class and I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity. I'll let you go for now. I just wanted to
write to you and wish you buona fortuna for the rest of your time teaching at Bell-Jeff and for the future.
Also, I hope you safe and happy trip in Italy this summer from July 9 th – August 3rd. Have some fun and
make the most of it. Arrivaderci!

One more thing...

“Don't give me that dirty look, you scumbag...”

With love and affection,

Vanessa Paula Zaki

Dear Mr. Richard Napier, May

2012

“The terrorist is now in the house!!!” Well my friend, how are you? I trust that you are well. Where do I
begin? From the second I walked into the door, I knew I was so fortunate to have you a great teacher like you this
year, you know that, Mr. Napier? I remember having you as my sub a couple of times in room 106 last year when I
was in AP Chemistry. That was the first year when you taught at Bell-Jeff. I remember you asking me if I was
“stuck.” I remember always hiding my food from you in my bag. I remember you saying that you were “watching
me” and how I got everybody all fooled, and that you knew something was up the moment you saw me driving.

Mr. Napier, I want to thank you for all of the good memories that you brought to me and for always
knowing how to put a smile on my face. You make every second of every class time fun and there is never a dull
moment. I always looked forward each day and I've now realized how hard it will be to not get up in the morning
and walk in your classroom and hear your hilarious jokes and stories. You always started each prayer with “Dear
Lord, we thank you for this day. We thank you for...” We had many fond memories together that I will always
remember and cherish forever. From Kairos, when you told my mom that I was lovely and that you appreciated me
because I am so nice, to when you wanted to sell me a water bottle and asked me if I wanted to buy it if Ashton
Kutcher, Brad Pitt, or Manny Pacquaio drank from it. I said no. From when you saw me get dropped off from my
mom's Lexus with a gold key and you told me you knew how to get money from, to the time that Graham visited
and you put post-its with your name on all of my gifts. You asked me if he is my SOS and that you wanted
strawberry and chocolate flavored cake at our wedding.

I realize that is just a piece of paper with some ink on it, but as you hold it in your hands, Mr. Napier, I hope
that you know that it's been such a privilege to have you as my teacher and I want to thank you being so caring,
giving, talented, charismatic, funny, selfless, there are not enough words to describe. Because without you Mr.
Napier, my experience at Bell-Jeff wouldn't have been half experience. I am so grateful, lucky, and appreciative to
have had such a great teacher like you. You are so thoughtful and you always put others first. I know you miss your
dad. He died on a Monday, on the morning of January 9, 2012. I saw it in your eyes and when you smiled and I
heard it even when you laughed that deep inside you wanted to cry. Cause you're scared, he's not there. Daddy's with
you in your prayers. I know he is smiling in heaven watching over you, so proud. Rishonda, she looks so much like
you. The way her eyes shine like two dark glassy marbles and the way her smile and positive aura brightens every
room. The way she cracks everybody up with laughter and touch people's heart with her kindness. Mr. Napier, she's
lovely. She has grown into a beautiful young woman, just like her mother and father. She is very lucky to have you
as a father.

At my graduation, there'll be tears in my eyes and you will be of the main reasons. I will be facing two
moments. One moment where I will be the happiest person to graduate, and one moment where I will be the saddest
person in the world. Because I'm going to say goodbye to a teacher, a mentor, an inspiration, and a friend. I am
forever thankful for having you in my life, and I look up to you because you're one of a kind and I will never meet
anyone like you ever again in my life, ever. The memories and funny chats I had with you are some of the few good
times I've had at Bell-Jeff. No words can really express my gratitude, you are a wonderful teacher and I am so lucky
to have met you. You mean a great deal to me, over the course of one year not only have you been a wonderful
teacher, but one I consider a friend and father figure. And everybody you meet is lucky to be in your path, especially
Clara, Ryan, and Rishonda.

I hope one day I might have the opportunity to have the same positive impact on someone's life like you had
in mine. I hope that someday, I'll be able to show someone the kindness and support you've shown me. I hope that
someday, I'll be able to change someone's life the way you've changed mine. I will never forget you. If you're alone,
I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be
happy, I'll be your smile. But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me. These arms for you are open so you can hug
me close to your heart. You touched my heart with your kindness and left imprints that last forever. You will always
hold that special place in my heart where only you can touch. This isn't goodbye forever but more like so long. I'll
let you go for now. I just wanted to write to you and wish you good luck for the rest of your time teaching at Bell-
Jeff and for the future. Of course I will come from time to time to bring you donuts and visit you on your birthday
on October 6. Take care and God Bless you and your family.

I'm watching you watch me too...

With love and affection,

Vanessa Paula Zaki
You said a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, a song is worth a million. But the tears
falling from your eyes? Yeah, those are worth a billion.

thank-you for all the fun times and smiles.

we have shared many happy memories with you that we will always
remember and cherish

Because you're special (teacher's name here)

This card is handmade, not bought

The world's a better place

Because of teachers like you

Dear Mrs. Michelle Otis, May 2012

Hi! How are you? I hope this letter finds you are well. Mrs. Otis, I know I never actually had you
as my teacher but you were a sub for my classes many times.. I remember when you said that your son
said he was hungry at 4 in the morning and you said, “Why would you want to eat at 4 in the morning?”
You gave him a banana and he wouldn't stop talking. We had many interactions. The first one was when
on the first day of lunch my freshman year, the lights in the cafeteria were flashing I thought that meant
lunch was over, and not to leave the cafeteria. So, I threw my food away in the trash can that I didn't
finish and you said “Don't throw it away.” When I wanted to add you on Facebook and you told me you
don't add students until after they graduate, those times when you asked me why I didn't go to detention,
to when you gave me an infraction for wearing Dickies pants, and how you always smile at me everytime
you see me. Even though we don't know each other very well, I know that you are a wonderful teacher
and mother. I'll let you go for now. I just wanted to write to you and wish you good luck for the rest of
your time teaching at Bell-Jeff and all the best for the future. I just want you to know that everybody you
meet is lucky to be in your path. Everybody, especially Wes, Veronica, and Allan. :) Take care and God
Bless you and your family.

With love and affection,

Vanessa Paula Zaki