Sharing Thanks from Your Students
It’s that time of year! As we’ve done each fall since 2017, we invited students to express their gratitude for you and your teaching. The outpouring of appreciation was just as moving as ever, so we want to share some of the highlights. We’ll be sending individual letters enclosing these messages in December, but in the meantime, we hope this selection warms your Thanksgiving break.
There were a few trends we noticed this year. FSU students are always proud and grateful for the sense of community and connection they feel here, but this year more students than ever before took the time to praise your kindness and warmth. They noticed the effort you put into creating supportive conditions for learning, and they felt valued because you got to know them. They said they learned more because you conveyed faith in their ability to succeed. They were grateful that you challenged them and conveyed your high expectations, in concert with strong support. They could tell that their thinking developed, and they were grateful for the many ways you helped them to grow. Many of them also attributed their personal growth and development to your efforts, and they expressed gratitude for your guidance and mentorship.
Below are some of our favorite examples. We think they’re a good reflection of the kind of learning environment we are all creating together, and each one of you reading this deserves many thanks.
“[My instructor] did the unthinkable—she turned me into a confident science student! While I have never been particularly inclined to the sciences, I found myself eager to skip a weekend to get back to class the next week…It takes a special kind of professor to make a college student feel individually welcomed and loved in a classroom of 200 students, but you have done so (and much more). You have changed my life extraordinarily, and I don’t think that enough words could convey just how grateful I am for you, even if I only get to see you in class. THAT is a special professor!”
“Your guidance has pushed me to think sharper, dig deeper, and take my own ideas seriously. Thank you for your mentorship outside the classroom, whether in conversations, through feedback, or just moral support in general, it has made a lasting impact.”
“[My instructor’s] passion for the environment spills into our classroom every single day—in the best way possible. I feel welcomed by her warmth and enthralled with her enthusiasm every single week. As soon as I enter the classroom, I feel like a part of a bigger whole. They effectively include everybody and every perspective in class discussion, which has introduced me to a variety of new ideas that I had not considered before. I have never met a professor that is able to so easily welcome such a large class and make every individual student feel so important and connected to the material. I have started a daily routine of picking up garbage on my way to your class because I feel a greater urgency to be involved where I can….I will miss you and this course come spring semester, and I hope that this is not the last time that I get to be in your class!”
“Thank you so much for your caring and compassionate leadership. Your dedication to your students and to [the field] truly shines through in all you do. You are an inspiration…who shows us that pursuing our dreams, growing into better versions of ourselves, and earning our advanced degrees and credentials is possible. I am deeply grateful for your guidance and encouragement.”
“[My professor] helped me learn about complex techniques, when I struggled. All of her advice and feedback was actionable, respectful, and with a full understanding of where I started at. I am usually not engaged in literature classes, but I found myself looking forward to this class. Not because of the subject matter, but because of how she brought it to life and taught us why it is important and why it is intriguing.”
“[My professor] genuinely knows the student and you aren’t just a number in the class, and [he] actually cares to know whether we understood the subject or not and would go out of his way to ask students and try to understand how to tailor the course for the rest of the semester while also making sure we learn.”
“I so appreciate your style of teaching and genuinely have learned so much in both of your courses. You treat students with kindness and respect, and I truly think your exams are a fair way of measuring what we learned in your courses. I’ve never in my life felt excited to take an exam, but when it comes to your classes, I get excited because I attend class, study and prepare, and know my hard work pays off.”
“After my first exam, I had…the lowest [score] among my friends. I cried all weekend, the low self esteem hit me hard…I was scared of not doing well, because I will be seen as the odd one. I went to [my professor], and he calmed my spirit down. Ever since then, anytime I am confused about anything and I meet him, he always takes his time to explain to me. He is very busy with a lot in his hands, but when I ask to meet him, he never says no. He will always try to assist any way he can.”
“Thank you for the warmth and steadiness! Your guidance helped me have a deeper understanding of what professionalism looks like in our field, and you helped me feel more grounded and encouraged throughout my first year. I truly appreciate the supportive space you create for us all! Thank you.”
“[My professor is] extremely knowledgeable and phenomenally skilled at what she does. She has so many students but takes the time to know our names. Somehow, she establishes a close relationship with every ensemble member, all the way to the back rows and corners. I have learned so much just by watching her conduct in class, and I have so much fun because she understands the importance of savoring the process rather than rehearsing for the purpose of an end goal. But because of this, she makes the performances even better, and gets us to sound great. She maintains a very professional setting but creates an atmosphere of wonder…I want to be like her one day, and I am beyond thankful.”
“As it is my first year in America, I am struggling to deal with courseworks and living alone as an international student. However, I want to find my true research interest and participate in research projects at the same time. [My professor] understands my struggles and included me in her projects so that I could participate in and learn from her. She listens to her students, and acknowledges students’ efforts. When we (students) told that we are having a hard time about reading assignments in this semester, she tried to unburden us. She is warm-hearted and very proficient in both teaching and research. She also introduces several opportunities that might be helpful for students, and her research meetings are very informative for new students. I am very lucky to meet her.”
“[My professor] has encouraged me to grow as both a student and a researcher. She has so much passion for the work she does, and it helps to get students motivated as well. She is such a supportive professor and a great resource. Sometimes when I’m feeling unmotivated or defeated, I re-read an encouraging email from her, and it helps get me out of my rut. Thank you so much for your support in my roles as a student, a researcher, and a person!”
“You are truly a gem of a teacher! I walk into your class everyday excited because our class is such a welcoming presence and you are the main component why. I love our before class catchups and I admire how you put your everything for your students. I hope you know you are truly appreciated by the students who care and you have already made a difference in my life.”
“You are an amazing professor! I really appreciate how you take the time to read and comment thoughtfully on all of our discussions; it truly shows how much you care about your students and what we have to say. You are incredibly kind and understanding, and you have made this class such a positive experience. You’ve been my favorite professor so far, and I’ll definitely miss being in your class. Wishing you all the very best, you absolutely deserve it!”
“[My professor] demonstrates the essential skills necessary to succeed in your career, but more importantly, making a positive impact on others. He has taught leadership, communication, confidence, empathy, and most importantly, how to be of service to others. This is the best professor I’ve had in all my academic years and because of him, not only do I have my full time dream job offer, but I have been able to help others by inspiring and leading. This professor was the pillar of my growth as a human being my entire college career thus far and I am forever indebted to him.”
“[My] Professor encourages a welcoming environment and makes an effort to get to know her students even in a 200+ person lecture hall. This was my first semester in college, and I had always heard warnings about the massive lecture halls…Obviously she cannot meet every student, but it speaks to her testament that she tries to meet as many as possible. Her warm personality and engaging [class sessions] make it easy to attend class even though they are at the crack of dawn (9:45, ugh).”
“You reminded me what it feels like to have a professor genuinely care about beyond just a curriculum. Thank you for being so engaging, kind, and supportive of the class and all of our individual personalities. You brought so much life into the classroom and always made learning an opportunity to grow. You are incredible!”
“[My professor] learned the names of all his regularly attending students, waves to every student that enters his classroom, and even sings on Fridays!”
“I want to say thank you. Before signing up for your class, I always had this consistent fear of public speaking. I have rarely been the type of student who raised their hand or shared their thoughts in class, even when I had something to say. But your class changed that for me. The way you ran discussions…I finally felt comfortable enough to speak. Not because I was suddenly 100% confident in myself, but because I felt safe to try. Your class gave me something I did not expect to learn this semester, which was the opportunity to hear my own voice in a room and not be afraid of it. That meant more to me than you probably realize. Thank you again for your time, your patience, and for creating a space where someone like me could grow into a more confident classmate and future professional. I am walking away from your class this semester with much more confidence than I started with, and I am really grateful for that.”
Thank you so much for all you do for our students! We are grateful that we get to read hundreds of these wonderful messages this time each year.
2026 Provost’s Showcase of Scholarly Teaching
Friday, April 17th | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Strozier Library Basement | More details on our website
We’re delighted to announce that CAT and FSU Libraries will host the third annual Provost’s Showcase of Scholarly Teaching on April 17, 2026. This event is an opportunity for you to share your teaching expertise and innovations with the larger campus community. Even if you’ve never thought about presenting at a pedagogical conference before, you likely have strategies and insights that could be of benefit to colleagues. We invite you to apply to host a roundtable discussion or present a poster.
If you would like to submit a proposal, please fill out our Application Form. The application due date is Feb. 1, 2026. We look forward to reading about your teaching!