All that remains of the coveted Halloween stash is a crumpled Tootsie Roll and if one’s lucky, two or three stale candy corns. Across the street, there’s the neighbor whose lawn is already cluttered with Christmas lights, blasting Mariah Carey. For many students, November is a time of celebration, if not for the holiday itself than for a break from school.

Whether one celebrates it or not, Thanksgiving is best known as a time for giving THANKS, and while it might not seem like there is a lot to give thanks for during a worldwide pandemic, sometimes it’s the most challenging times that reveal the most about one’s life. What one is fortunate for, and in this case, who. Among the countless teachers, sticking their necks out to continue our education during COVID-19, is Ms. Kuso. Here are the reasons to be thankful for Ms. Kuso this November.

No matter the situation, Ms. Kuso always has a smile on her face, and if it weren’t for the limitations of online learning, I’d say she has a stride in her step, too. Be it her chemistry class or APES, Ms. Kuso does all she can to create an enjoyable learning environment. She inspires students to actively participate and does what she can to make students feel comfortable with the technology at hand. It is clear she has spent countless hours setting up breakout rooms, activities and provides the tools students need to feel as if they were physically in class. Not only that, but Ms. Kuso seems genuinely interested in how her students are coping, and she is emotionally invested in each and every one of their lives.

To any student who has ever taken a test or quiz after school, has visited Ms. Kuso during her office hours, or has needed extra help learning a concept, it should be no surprise to them that Ms. Kuso devotes most of her day to her students. Ms. Kuso doesn’t just accommodate her students’ needs, but she goes above and beyond with her work-ethic. Her energy is contagious, she wills her students to try their best in every aspect of their lives, and it makes a difference.

To sum it all up, Ms. Kuso brings life to the data and numbers that we call science. She has a way of captivating student’s imagination instead of putting them in a box. This is no easy feat at a time when teachers and students are disconnected not only from each other, but from the real world. So, thank you Ms. Kuso for all the hard work you do for students at AHS!