A lawyer was recently reunited with the first grade teacher she had never forgotten decades after the educator came to school early every day to teach her English.

Ana Reyes, now 46, was only 5 years-old when she moved to the United States with her family after living in Montevideo, Uruguay and Barcelona, Spain.

“I recall feeling generally confused and out of place during kindergarten when I couldn’t speak any English at all,” Reyes told People Magazine.

Pat Harkleroad was assigned to be Reyes first grade teacher at Wilder Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky, and she could immediately see that the girl was struggling. That’s why she decided to contact Reyes’ mother and arrange for her to come in before school each day for private tutoring.

Every morning, Harkleroad would come to school an hour early to give Reyes one-on-one English lessons. This was a gesture of life-changing kindness that has stuck with Reyes for decades.

“It has always been with me that a teacher came to school early every morning to help me but I did not remember her name,” said Reyes. “I’ve thought about that countless times over the years and discussed it with many friends. I know I was incredibly lucky.”

It wasn’t until recently that Reyes decided that she wanted to track down Harkleroad so that she could thank her personally for what she had done.

“Being able to say thank you to someone who changed my life felt so meaningful and uplifting,” said Reyes. “And realizing that Mrs. Harkleroad is just as wonderful as I remembered her was very affirming. I know I will never forget the day.”

Reyes was able to find Harkleroad by contacting the Kentucky Department of Education, and the two had an emotional reunion that the former teacher never saw coming.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Harkleroad said. “I was so glad that she thought enough of me to want to meet with me again and to think I had a small part in her success.”

After getting some help from Harkleroad, Reyes would go on to graduate from Harvard Law School. She currently works as an attorney at Williams & Connolly, where she is the co-head of the international disputes practice group. Meanwhile, Harkleroad retired in 2005 and is now 77 years-old.

“What Mrs. Harkleroad did for me was extraordinary, and I am positive that she has helped thousands of other children,” Reyes said. “When you help one person, you also help all the people that person goes on to help… So the help Mrs. Harkleroad gave four decades ago continues to this day and going forward.”