There was a time I was definitely lost and uncertain about my future. I had just gotten into 9th grade and was severely depressed. Afraid and anxious I barely showed up to any of my classes and completely skipped some. I had missed two weeks worth of Julia’s gym classes and honestly I really thought she would be like my other teachers who just didn’t care or would kick me when I was already down. Showing up to her first gym class I was already in horrible shape, didn’t eat for two days and barely slept. Ten minutes in I already felt like I was going to collapse and had to be taken aside. Julia was pretty tough on me for being in such poor shape, she lectured me but what surprised me was that it didn’t feel condescending. She did it purely because she was worried about me and I realized that very quickly. Her and her husband even went out of their way to get me a snack and juice and I went back to class more refreshed than when I began. Many times I would stay after class to talk to her and she would give me advice about break ups, what I needed to do to start getting my butt into gear and about doing the things that made me happy. I appreciated it so much and I never expected her to go out of her way to share her wisdom. Julia was a one of a kind teacher that most students will unfortunately never have the pleasure of being taught by, she would be tough on you, she’d make you run laps, she’d get mad if you were disturbing her class but she’d always be in your corner. I spent that entire year improving myself using the advice she gave me. I joined our school’s Jazz band and went to practice every week, finally playing on stage for the first time of my life that year. I realized my efforts bore fruit and that they were by my hands but it wouldn’t have been possible if Julia didn’t believe in me to begin with.