English has always been my least favorite subject. Not because it has been a hard class, but mainly because it was just boring. But after this year, I can say I confidently look forward to English. English teacher Kimberly Villegas transformed my view of essays, language and reading from an annoying chore to something I enjoy doing. Right now, I’m a sophomore in her sixth period Advanced English 2 class.

When I first walked into Mrs. Villegas’s class, I knew I was going to love her. Her vibe was very fun but also sarcastic which is something that relates to me. I remember her asking me if I ever saw this movie called “Molly’s Game” –  because my name was Molly. Ever since then when we would talk we would joke about me being a professional skier who traveled the world. Now, when I walk into class a minute before the bell, she always smiles and says the party has arrived.

Villegas also made learning effective and not just memorization. Instead of giving us a review packet and hoping for the best, she would give us time as a class to go over it, give us real helpful tips, and make us get better grades than we would trying to learn from a video or a packet. 

Beyond academics, I really enjoy her as a person. She is very understanding and I can always talk to her about things outside of school. She loves to give very personal feedback and help us succeed. One quirk that makes her all the more human is she does grade papers later then scheduled. Even though sometimes the late return would be annoying, the feedback and results were always worth it. I already know I will be taking Dual Credit English senior year, and I will be very glad to have her again.

** This story is part of a Teacher Appreciation series where students write about a staff member who has had a significant impact on them during high school.