I’ve never been able to be myself in a class—not since kindergarten or first grade. So it came as a shock when I stepped into AP English Language and Composition (or AP Lang for short) on the first day of sophomore year at Arrowhead High School and I realized I could truly express myself. And it was all thanks to Mrs. Whitehaus.

Never have I met a more involved and passionate teacher. She encouraged ingenuity, nurtured creativity, and provided us with a safe space where, for 60 minutes every day, we could be ourselves. 

Before class every day, a friend and I would talk to her about anything we liked. Billy Joel, Shawn Mendes, lame English memes from Instagram—she loved it all. Not once did she pass judgement or hinder us from staying true to ourselves. Even outside of her room, my confidence skyrocketed and I was no longer afraid to excel in school.

Aside from her caring personality, Mrs. Whitehaus has a talent for writing. Her in-class essay examples were incredible. Every word on the page was purposeful, contributing to a brilliant image that dances through the mind. Her dedication to the topics she wrote about developed the feeling her work created. I vividly recall her essay for Matilda Jane, a clothing line she is passionate about. She wrote to give back to the company for all they had done for her. The feeling left behind after reading it was like nothing I had ever experienced from ink on paper. The phrase “lead by example” is one that applies to Mrs. Whitehaus. She taught me to be concise, yet thorough—emotional, yet unbiased.

Mrs. Whitehaus, once she cares about something, refuses to give up and fights the right fight until the end. I have never seen a teacher care as deeply about students. Emma Mertens, an eight year old girl who attended a local elementary school, passed away on November 17th of 2019, due to an inoperable brain tumor. A few weeks prior to this tragedy, I was working in downtown Hartland when Mrs. Whitehaus came into the restaurant. 

“I couldn’t sleep just thinking about Emma. I knew I had to do something,” she told me, handing me a stash of ribbons and informing me that she was hanging them up around town to support Emma.

 I was stunned. Mrs. Whitehaus never knew Emma, yet here she was on a cold, dark night tying ribbons around street posts to support her. Her hands may have been freezing but her warm spirit kept her going strong. Her “lead by example” attitude taught me to fight for my beliefs more than any textbook ever could.

Thank you, Mrs. Whitehaus, for allowing me to be myself each and every day. The amount of love and kindness you radiate is something I strive to achieve, even if I never reach the bar you have set so high. As you have told me countless times, whether you knew it or not, please—never change.