In fact, I remember many of my teachers from elementary, middle, and high school and how much they meant to me.  I remember my 6th grade teacher, who said that ‘if Min was left in the classroom by herself, she would still be studying and doing her work even when no one is watching.  I also remember my 9th grade high school English teacher who introduced me to poetry and encouraged me to write my own poems and my 11th grade high school history teacher who showed me why understanding American and global history was important.  I also remember my tennis coach who made me the tennis team captain even though I was the worst tennis player on the team, just because she wanted to encourage me to learn how to lead.  These teachers mentored me and gave me the confidence to apply to an ivy league school even though our high school was a very small rural school, and students generally didn’t graduate or went on to work in their family farms.  These teachers and my experiences in public schools are what made me who I am today, and I wouldn’t be here without them.