Changing A Life

Nay wasn't the world's worst student, but he was a far from a good one.  Yet, I saw through his immaturity and knew there was something great inside of him.  I told this to his mom as she sat crying in the guidance office listening to the counselor saying one bad thing after another about her only son. I don't remember what I said, and I know I did not lie, but her tears stopped and she smiled.  I somehow managed to give her hope.

I just got an e-mail from Nay.  He is working and going to school for an MBA.  He is doing great and his mom is proud.  He said it was the college recommendation I wrote that turned him around.  I wrote hundreds of letters and can't remember what I wrote in each but I know ones for kids like Nay took a lot of effort.  I refused to lie or even exaggerate the truth so I spent a long time delving into his character and wrote down where strengths and possibilities.

I never gave those letters a second thought after I sent them out but I now know if one affected Nay so strongly, others must have been affected too.

My AP did not think much of me as a teacher.  He still makes disparaging comments about me, mostly to a staff of newbies who have no idea who I am, but that doesn't matter.  The kids were the one I worked for. Their words are the words that mean something.  Their success and my part in it is all that counts.