Dear Members of My 8th Grade Classes (and those that weren't):

 I want to take this moment of your time to say thank you for an awesome year.  It has been a pleasure

 to have had all of you as my students.  I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed the past year as much as I

 have.  You have made this past year an enjoyable one and one that I will remember always.

 I hope that in some small way I have left you with some higher knowledge - not just in science, but in life

 as well.  Remember, education is not just learning about different things - it is gaining knowledge.

 Knowledge goes beyond learning about outer space or mathematics or social studies.

 Knowledge is the bridge between individuals; knowledge is recognizing your self-worth and realizing that

 if you want something to change, you personally have to do something different.  You have to defy your

 own group.  Rebel against yourself; your parents; your teachers.  Knock down your walls and get out of

 your own way.

 Remember, it is you and only you, who determines who you will be and what you will do for the rest of

 your life.  Remember those that have less than you; pay no mind to those that have more.  Remember to

 stop and enjoy the sunset; never forget to laugh; never forget to love; never forget to have fun as often

 as possible.  Never forget those that have helped you and forget those that have wronged you.

 Remember that ultimately it isn't the type of car you drive, but where you went with that car; it isn't the size of

 the house you own, but the amount of love that lives within the walls; it isn't the amount of money you make,

 but the joy and happiness that you get from your work; it isn't about the things you have, but what you do with

 the things you do have.

 You are about to embark on the second best four years of your life (the first best four years is college - trust

 me.)  LIVE IT!!  Join clubs - do things - go places - make friends.  These next four years lay the foundation of

 what you will be and the person you will become.  I expect to read/hear about the great things that you will do

 in life.  One of you may go on to discover the cure for cancer or AIDS; perhaps one of you will lead our city,

 state or nation; perhaps one of you will go to Mars (remember to "borrow" me a rock please - LOL - inside joke

 for 804-805-806.)  Remember, it makes no difference what you do - as long as you DO SOMETHING!

 One final thought - remember when life or school gets you down and you feel there is no way out, you still

 have someone to talk to - a teacher at IS 24 who will always be there when you need him, 24 hours a day,

 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  Give a holler, drop an email, say "yo" once in a while!

 May God Bless you all; and May The Force Be With You - Always....Mr. "Sir-Ray" Cottrell

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