As the class of 2025 nears the end of their high school journey, many are ready to leave, but some will (secretly) miss the teachers who shaped their paths and got them to where they are today. Even though many students roll their eyes when they see their teacher give them yet another test, the Dubs aren’t ready to say goodbye to the comfort of their favorite teacher’s classrooms.
Within the towering halls of North Atlanta, classrooms are filled with enthusiastic teachers who strive to push their students to do their best. No matter how many “busy work” assignments teachers throw at students, wanting better for them is something senior Christa Jenkins appreciates. Dr. Brooke Dozier, an IB History teacher at North Atlanta, impacted Jenkin’s life in ways that went far beyond the classroom. “I would say that senior year is pretty hard, and Dr.Dozier is very understanding,” she said. “She likes what she does and genuinely cares about her students.”
While many students see their teachers as relentless graders, the best teachers are also mentors who shape the lives of their students. Whether rain or shine, happy or sad, North Atlanta caters teachers for students to have not only a teacher but also a friend. Senior Nate Pugeda knows this better than most. Mr. Robinson, Pugeda’s AP World History teacher from 10th grade, has been a guiding light through some of the toughest parts of his life. “History is not my thing,” he said. “But Mr. Robinson helped me through office hours and in class. He taught me more than history but also life lessons as well.”
Then, there are teachers with senioritis at an all-time high during the semester’s last stretch, making it hard for students to stay engaged (and attending) class. Ms. Samantha Johnston, a Forensics teacher at North Atlanta, has cracked the code in preventing senior Charlotte Haydon from giving into her severe case of senioritis. “After being already committed to a college, going to class is the last thing on my mind (whoops),” she said. “But Ms. Johnston is such a queen that going to her class has almost become the one thing I’ll miss most.”
As the Class of 2025 is preparing to walk across the stage and leave North Atlanta for good, there is little doubt that the bond they have formed with their teachers will endure. From the explicit support in classes to life lessons imparted outside the classrooms, these teachers have been anything but mere instructors; they’ve also been mentors and guides and, in some cases, even friends. When graduation arrives, it will not be the content that they taught that will remain with the students, but the love and devotion that these teachers placed into every lesson. For the 2025 Dubs, high school is coming to an end, but the influence of their teachers will be felt for years to come.
