PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Thanks to the heartfelt words of a 12-year-old former student, a retired Palm Harbor teacher has one more title to add to her list of accolades.
"My Favorite Teacher."
- Diego Jose Mercado Rivera, 12, wrote letter for Barnes and Noble contest
- Susan Terry won title for Clearwater Barnes and Noble store
- Diego a student from Puerto Rico displaced by Hurricane Maria
"Life in Florida could have been scary, horrible and sad. I smile now and I am happy," wrote 12-year-old Diego Jose Mercado Rivera.
The seventh-grader says he’s happy after leaving hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico because of his favorite teacher, Ms. Susan Terry.
"A teacher and a class can change my life, and it did," wrote Diego.
The essay was part of the Barnes & Noble “My Favorite Teacher” writing contest. Diego entered the contest, writing about Terry’s influence on him at his new school, Carwise Middle School in Palm Harbor.
His letter ended up winning for the Clearwater Barnes & Noble store, and earning Terry the title of "My Favorite Teacher."
"It just touched my heart," said Terry, who recently retired after a 36-year career in teaching. "It is a great feeling to know that your life has been doing something that is worthwhile."
Diego was inspired after just a couple of months in Terry’s class.
"She means, like, everything to me, helping me read, helping me write," said Diego.
"Diego will now go forward and he will know that he can accomplish anything, and he is a hero for all the students that have to be placed somewhere else away from their home," said Terry.
Terry encouraged her students to enter their writing assignments in various contests.
“I believe that every student should write something, and when they write from their heart that I should not just grade it and put it away -- it should be sent to someone else to read," said Terry.
"I want my "Teacher" to remember me like I will her," wrote Diego.
"These memories will last me a lifetime,” said Terry. “I get kind of choked up even thinking about it."