“When I was a Middle School student, I was able to foster my love for reading and writing in English and Creative Writing classes largely due to Teacher Suhail. I took CW courses from Suhail all throughout middle school and he taught my 7th and 8th grade English classes as well. In creative writing class with Suhail, I learned how to take rough ideas and transform them into full-fledged stories. Every Friday, we would have a free timed write with a story prompt and the invitation to let our imaginations run wild. I was able to exercise my creativity in a unique way in a controlled, safe environment where I felt comfortable doing so. Suhail provided thoughtful feedback and constructive criticism on all of our writing which was something I really appreciated. He also cultivated a space where my peers and I felt comfortable sharing our work with one another and asking for edits and feedback. In our ELA (English Language Arts) class, we studied multiple texts, including classics like Beowulf, A Raisin in the Sun, and The Odyssey, all of which are typically taught at a high school level. Suhail made all of these texts very accessible to a middle-school level of learning. Not only did we discuss, analyze, and write about the texts to delve deeper into their meanings, Suhail also had us complete art and history projects that were relevant to what we were learning. For example, when we read The Tempest, we learned about the historical context of Shakespeare's life and completed assignments where we researched Shakespearean times & customs. When we read Wise Child, a novel with themes about paganism, we completed an art project about the different cycles of the year through the Ancient Irish Celtic lens. These types of projects helped me to broaden my understanding of texts and their placement and relevance to the world around us. Suhail helped me a lot with developing my reading, writing, and analytical skills. His classes helped me realize my love for reading and writing in particular. Presently, I am not only an Editor-in-Chief & staff writer for my high school's student publication and print magazine, but I am also a student news columnist for the San Mateo Daily Journal and an alumni at the School of the New York Times, and I am currently applying to undergrad journalism programs throughout the U.S. Several things have motivated me to pursue a career in journalism, but I owe a large part of this inspiration to Suhail's teachings and the foundation of love for the English language he instilled in me that I carry today.”

“Suhail was my English teacher for all three years of middle school. When I started as a 6th grader, I hated English. I thought I was bad at writing and could never focus while reading books. I remember Suhail would have us take page notes for every page, helping me understand what was actually happening in the book. After even having Suhail as my teacher for a year, my love for reading grew, and my appreciation for writing did too. After having him as my teacher for three years, I can confidently say he has helped me with my English and has made me a better writer.”

“Suhail was one of my favorite teachers in middle school. He was a very inspiring teacher, with fun lessons. For example, he made me learn to love Shakespeare through acting out scenes from several of his plays.

He also helped me get better at writing short stories and essays. In the beginning of my first year with him, I would never finish my timed writings (short stories), because I focused too much on detail, but he helped me find a way to gather my ideas, write a not-too-detailed story, that I can detail and ameliorate later on.

Now I’m a high school student, and my writing skills that I have learned from Suhail’s Language Arts class have really helped me. Suhail also made me love English, and now I will be doing AP English this year.

I also recently participated in a Shakespeare play, which I really enjoyed because it felt like I was back in Suhail’s classroom, acting out Shakespeare and having lots of fun.

I really recommend this fabulous teacher, as he will help you in your English journey, and you will have lots of fun along the way.”

“To whom it may concern,

I am writing to recommend Suhail Rafidi, who taught me Creative Writing and Language Arts in middle school and left a lasting impact on the way I approach both reading and writing. He is a spirited educator whose passion for storytelling is immediately apparent. What set his teaching apart was the way he combined the joy of creativity with the discipline of language. He gave us assignments that sparked imagination, such as building fictional worlds or experimenting with stream of consciousness, while always connecting the work back to grammar, clarity, and structure.

He has a unique gift for making literature meaningful. Discussions in his class went beyond plot to explore themes, symbolism, and the ways stories reflect human experience. Students were encouraged to think critically, to articulate their interpretations, and to recognize the layers within every text. His enthusiasm created an environment where learning felt engaging, challenging, and meaningful.

Suhail’s dedication, creativity, and ability to connect with others will make him successful in any endeavor. It is with full respect and appreciation that I recommend him.
Nicole F.
UC San Diego
Class of 2029”

"I am grateful to have had Mr. Suhail as an English teacher over the course of Middle School. Before learning from him, I greatly struggled with English, and frankly, I was quite terrified of analyzing and writing long and complicated pieces of text, from epic poems to 5-paragraph essays interpreting them. When Mr. Suhail taught, he explained the context of the piece of literature, mostly including the plot and the time period, allowing me to focus entirely on the structure of the language alone, and find some of the inner layers hidden underneath the overarching storyline, such as symbolism, allegories, and more. When it came to writing (especially essays), he broke stuff down into much simpler concepts, whether it was through analogies or examples. After learning from him for three school years, I found essays to be much easier to write, and I was much less afraid to dive in; instead of just giving up and daydreaming, I know where to start. Other students I know have also appreciated his style of teaching, and I’m sure his future students will too; I am glad to have learned from Mr. Suhail.

On a personal note, Mr. Suhail: Thank you so much for teaching me during Middle School. The works of literature that we went over and the tips you gave have come in handy. In my AS English classes at Carlmont, we read the Odyssey (the other translation), Romeo & Juliet, and we are currently going over Beowulf (the same translation that we did). The texts I was familiar with were significantly easier to go over a second time, and I was able to find many more layers to the stories as I "stood in the waterfall" for the second time. Seeing Shakespeare was also less of a shock.

The numerous essays we have to write were much easier than they otherwise would have been. Thank you again, I am glad to have learned from you and established a personal connection with you.

Good luck with everything!"

“I’m incredibly grateful to have had Suhail Rafidi as my Language Arts teacher in middle school. His support and guidance have made a real difference in my academic journey—especially in helping us write our Rite of Passage letters, which are such an important part of our graduation requirements.

Writing something so personal and meaningful wasn’t easy, but Suhail made the process feel approachable and empowering. They gave us the tools to express ourselves honestly and thoughtfully, and their feedback helped me shape my letter into something I’m truly proud of.

Beyond that, Suhail created a learning environment that was both respectful and engaging. Every class felt like a space where we could ask questions, share ideas, and grow—not just as students, but as individuals. Whether we were analyzing literature or working on our writing, they always encouraged us to think deeply and communicate clearly.

Thank you, Suhail, for everything you’ve done to help us succeed.”

“I first met Mr. Suhail in 8th grade, and he taught me important skills, especially when it comes to receiving inference clues and dissecting important information. From the very beginning, Mr. Suhail demonstrated a unique teaching approach that went beyond traditional methods. He had an exceptional ability to break down complex concepts into manageable pieces, helping students like myself develop critical thinking skills that have proven invaluable throughout my academic journey.

What truly set Mr. Suhail apart was his dedication to fostering a collaborative learning environment. He will always take the time to hear your voice and is very open to receiving people's opinions, creating a classroom atmosphere where every student felt valued and heard. This openness encouraged meaningful discussions and debates that deepened our understanding of the subject matter.

Mr. Suhail's teaching style emphasized the importance of looking beyond surface-level information. He taught us to question, analyze, and synthesize information from multiple sources, skills that have served me well in high school and continue to benefit me today. His patience and willingness to explain concepts from different angles ensured that no student was left behind.

Beyond academics, Mr. Suhail served as a mentor who genuinely cared about his students' growth and development. His classroom was a safe space where we could express our thoughts freely, make mistakes, and learn from them. The confidence and analytical skills I gained under his guidance have been instrumental in my continued success, and I am grateful to have had such an inspiring educator during those formative years.”

“My middle school English teacher, Suhail, always pushed me and my classmates to think deeper about our readings and write stories and poems with creativity. He made reading enjoyable by bringing stories to life with acting and read alouds in our class times. In class, he helped build my confidence in both writing and speaking. I am so grateful that he was my English teacher for 3 years and it has helped me excel in my high school classes.”

“Suhail was my English and Language Arts teacher from 2020 - 2023. During this time, he helped me push myself further in a department I was not confident in, offered plenty of one-on-one guidance and feedback on my work. One of the most vivid memories I have of working with Suhail was when I needed extra help trying to understand essay writing (one of the things I had never done before,) and he took time out of his day to sit down with me and work through the steps. This was one of the many sacrifices Suhail was willing to make in order to help his students reach their absolute bests. By doing so, I have grown to become an exceptional writer, especially with the timed writes in my current English classes. Suhail offered us creative writing as a way of learning, which encouraged us to start and complete a story in short periods of time.

By being trained in this area, I have had far less difficulty than my peers in displaying my ideas onto paper in a timely manner. Overall, I would not be as successful as I am today in the English department without the help of Suhail building my knowledge.”

“Suhail is an extraordinary educator who knows how to spark curiosity, build confidence, and make classic stories feel engaging and relevant. In his class, my love for reading and writing deepened through engaging discussions of works like Shakespeare, Beowulf, Call of the Wild, A Raisin in the Sun, and The Odyssey. His creative writing projects encouraged me to explore my imagination, while his detailed feedback and group exercises helped me develop my storytelling, presentation, and critical thinking skills.

Suhail creates a supportive environment where students feel inspired to take risks and grow. I highly recommend his programs to anyone looking for meaningful and enriching learning experiences.”

“I had Suhail as a Language Arts teacher during both my 7th and 8th grade years. His class played a huge role in helping me strengthen not only my creative writing skills, but also my ability to analyze and interpret complex literary works. Suhail has a gift for making literature feel both accessible and meaningful, and he creates an environment where students feel encouraged to express their ideas freely. As a teacher, he genuinely cares about his students’ growth, and he consistently pushes them to reach their full potential.”

“I was a student of Suhail’s from the start of 6th grade to the middle of seventh. During that time he taught me not only the fundamentals of writing, but he dove deeper into the core of literature as a whole. Using hands-on material such as analyzing poetry and reading aloud/acting out Shakespeare, I learned so much from his class, as did my classmates. In the future, the knowledge he has shared with me and my peers will be utilized for high school and beyond. If you’re looking for someone to instruct you on the concept of literature in a simple, but advanced way, Suhail is your choice.“

“While working with Suhail I’ve developed many important skills. Those range from being able to easily structure essays all the way to being able to quickly understand Shakespearean language both which continue to help me in high-school to this day!

During the time Suhail taught me I’ve had many great memories, from the creative writing projects, to reading and understanding texts ranging from The Odyssey, Beowulf, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, to name a few. Given the opportunity, I would love to be able to work with Suhail again, and would definitely recommend his services to anyone interested in literature or working on creative writing!”

“Suhail was an amazing teacher who made me want to write stories and encouraged my creativity. He also emphasized and made us practice our public speaking skills and made sure I stepped out my comfort zone. He gave direct feedback that was helpful in improving my writing skills. Above all he made his classes fun with games and a great sense of humor. I really enjoyed his classes from 6th to 8th grade.”

Hi Suhail!

I loved being in your class so much! You made learning really fun and interesting by encouraging us to work together, and you always offered the best advice on our stories to help me learn. A lot of your assignments really pushed me to be creative and write something completely different than I normally would. Thank you so much for teaching me how to express myself through writing, and anyone interested in writing should definitely consider taking your class!

Suhail is very kind and a superb teacher. He goes into detail about the subject and is super through making sure you understand every word. I truly enjoyed the months I got to spend with him.