My “Thinking of you” Charm Bracelet

First, I want to say that I am so excited to have found this website, as the management is very kind and it is nice to be able to share the stories about something that makes me happy and have others enjoy it. I have already shared my own story about the current status of my own Pandora bracelet. But, I wanted to share the story of a charm bracelet that I started for a friend of mine that is very special to me.

I first enrolled in her course my freshman year of high school. She taught a course in child development and two in culinary arts. My freshman year was a particularly tough transition, as I was shy and was enrolled in many courses that were filled with upperclassmen, whom I did not know. My teacher was able to recognize my trouble very early and was always very kind to me. She made every effort to ask how things were going and offer assistance should I need it. I found her caring and concern to be very comforting in my new setting, and was very disappointed when the semester ended. I finished my first year without having a course with her, and without seeing her very often. When sophomore year rolled around, I needed some elective credits, and I opted to take the course in culinary arts. Sure enough, my experience again, was great. I thoroughly enjoyed her course and she always made me feel comfortable. On holidays, she would present me with a small treat. Slowly, our friendship began to develop as we would discuss more and more about our families. She had been in the school system so long that she had actually taught my step-father! I learned about her son and her husband and her mother. She became like my mother away from home.

For the remainder of my high school career, I was either enrolled in one of her courses (even taking a particular one twice) or doing work-study for her. We exchanged gifts on holidays and, she even went through the trouble of finding out when my birthday was and surprised me with a gift. She was my coach for college decisions and really enjoyed our chats during lunch or free periods. She was approaching retirement, she says, when I enrolled in her course. And since I was able to redo a lot of her curriculum and assignments that needed to be done on the computer according to new standards, she continued for a few more years. I am very glad she did.

When I graduated and moved on to college, we continued to keep in touch. She would send emails that just said, “Thinking of you,” and little packages. For Valentine’s Day, she sent me a pretty purse. On my Christmas break, I would take a day to visit her at school and catch-up. She retired just after my first year at college, and since then, we have set aside a day to meet for breakfast before Christmas. I am in my senior year now and she has been the biggest help to me for obtaining a job. She had her husband, an accountant, put in good words for me at several of the accounting firms that I applied to. Without their assistance, I am not sure that I would be as happy with the job I have chosen.

This teacher made a tremendous impact on my life and has been the most wonderful friend. One of the gifts that I gave her for Christmas just two years ago was a charm bracelet. I wanted to give her something special because she has been so special to me. I thought that I would add a charm each year. I started with a charm that had a muffin tin and muffins, as a reminder of her teaching career and the years we spent chatting and doing work in the classroom. This past year, I did not find a charm that I thought was as fitting, and this is why I am so excited to have found your site. Your selection will assure that I can choose a charm that has a special a meaning as she is special to me. I cannot wait for the holidays now that I know exactly where to shop!

-Sarah M