There's nothing like the first day of school. When it's the first day of your first year as a teacher, it's a really big deal.
Kimmie Tomczak has been dreaming of this moment for a long time. She is about to begin her first year as a science teacher at Willow Spring High School in Fuquay-Varina.
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"Oh my goodness, so excited," said Tomczak. "Everyone at the school has been so welcoming and supportive of me, which I really appreciate."
Tomczak has known since she was little that she wanted to teach. But her path was set when she met her ninth-grade English teacher, Ms. Sheehan.
"[Ms. Sheehan] wrote every single one of her students a letter at the end of the year, personalized to us, talking to us about things that we had experienced together. And on mine, she gave me a to-do list."
Included in that to-do list was a suggestion to consider becoming a teacher.
The letter read, "1: Never stop being kind to others. Watching you be so thoughtful and kind is inspiring! 2: Consider being a teacher. You'd make a great one! 3: Come back and say hi if I don't have you next year!"
Years after she was given that letter, it remains tacked to Tomczak's bulletin board. It's a reminder of the great influence teachers can have on their students.
Now, she looks forward to having a similar impact on her students.
"Imagining these desks filled with real kids and not just the ones I've made up in my head is going to be awesome," said Tomczak. "Each kid has their own story, and I can't wait to get to know all of them."