For many of us, high school was not just about passing finals or memorizing dates. It was about the teachers who caught us when we were ready to give up and pushed us when we were too comfortable. Looking back, it is clear that while the lessons were in the books, the real growth happened because someone in the front of the room refused to let us settle for less than our best.
For senior Meili Nishi, Melissa Dorman has been a memorable and kind teacher in Advanced Placement (AP) statistics this year. In a subject defined by complex data and rigorous analysis, her presence provides a consistent resource for students navigating a challenging curriculum.
“Mrs. Dorman is always willing to help,” Nishi said. By focusing on individual mastery, Melissa Dorman helps students build the confidence necessary to succeed in a complex subject. “She truly wants the best for her students, and she makes sure that every student understands each topic in class,” Nishi said.
Similarly, for senior Pranavi Kandepu, Laura Mattair has been a significant influence this year in AP environmental science. Kandepu highlights the teacher’s ability to make the subject matter engaging through both her personality and her presentation of the material.
“She is super nice and a good lecturer in class and you can really tell she is passionate about environmental science,” Kandepu said.
By providing these consistent resources and demonstrating a genuine love for the environment, Mattair fosters a space where students feel encouraged to explore the natural world with the same level of dedication.
“She is really supportive and gives us a lot of resources to learn from and to help our understanding,” Kandepu said.
For junior Saraswati Nain, AP precalculus teacher Aaron Dorman has created a classroom environment that balances academic rigor with genuine personal connection. Nain appreciates the supportive atmosphere he fosters, noting the attention he pays to each student’s well-being.
“I love how he always checks up on us,” Nain said. Beyond the curriculum, Aaron Dorman’s personality helps keep the class engaged and lighthearted. His ability to blend humor with instruction makes the difficult equations of precalculus feel more approachable.
“He’s very funny, I really like his dad jokes,” Nain said.
As we look toward graduation and the various paths that lie beyond these gates, it becomes evident that these teachers provided the invisible architecture of our success. They taught us how to hold ourselves accountable. We leave these halls knowing that while we are the ones who put in the work, it was their belief in us that made the work feel worth it. They saw the potential in us long before we were ready to show it to the world.
