: : NADIA.NADIA.NADIA : :

Friday, May 25, 2007

so yesterday in school, they played this real touching video. for those who didnt come or fell asleep in the hall yesterday, this is what you missed. DONT CRY!

As she stood in front of her 5th gradeclasson the first day of school, shetold the children an untruth.Like most teachers, she looked at herstudentsand said that she loved them all thesame.However, that was impossible, becausethere in the front row,slumped in his seat was a little boynamed Teddy Stallard.Miss Thompson had watched Teddy theyear before and noticed that hedidn't play well with other children,that his clothes were messy,and that he constantly needed a bath.And, Teddy could be unpleasant.It got to the point where MissThompson would actually take delightin markinghis papers with a broad red pen,making bold X's and then puttinga big "F" at the top of his papers.At the school where Miss Thompsontaught, shewas required to review each child'spast records,and she put Teddy's off until the last.However, when she reviewed his file,she was in for a surprise.Teddy's first grade teacher wrote:"Teddy is a bright child with a readylaugh.He does his work neatly and has goodmanners.He is such a joy to be around."His second grade teacher wrote:"Teddy is an excellent student, wellliked by his classmates,but he is troubled because his motherhas aterminal illness, and life at homemust be a struggle."His third grade teacher wrote:"His mother's death has been hard onhim.He tries to do his best, but hisfather doesn't show much interest,and his home life will soon affect himif some steps aren't taken."Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote:"Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't showmuch interest in school.He doesn't have many friends and hesometimes sleeps in class."By now, Miss Thompson realized theproblem, and she was ashamed ofherself.She felt even worse when her studentsbrought her Christmas presents,wrapped in beautiful ribbons andbright paper, except for Teddy's.His present was clumsily wrapped inthe heavy brown paper that he got froma grocery bag.Miss Thompson took pains to open it inthe middle of the other presents.Some of the students started to laughwhen she found a rhinestone braceletwith some of the stones missing and abottle that was one-quarter full ofperfume.But she stifled the children'slaughter when she exclaimed how prettythe bracelet was,putting it on, and dabbing some of theperfume on her wrist.Teddy Stallard stayed after schoolthat day just long enough to say,"Miss Thompson, today you smell justlike my Mom used to."After the children left she cried forat least an hour.On that very day, she quit teachingreading, writing and arithmetic.Instead, she began to teach children.Miss Thompson paid particularattention to Teddy.As she worked with him, his mind beganto come alive.The more she encouraged him, thefaster he responded.By the end of the year, Teddy hadbecomeone of the smartest children in theclass,and despite her lie that she wouldlove allthe children the same, Teddy becameoneof her "teacher's pets."A year later, she found a note underher door from Teddy,telling her that she was the bestteacher he'd ever hadin his whole life!Six years went by before she gotanother notefrom Teddy.He then wrote that he had finishedhigh schoolthird in his class, and she was stillthe best teacherhe ever had in his whole life.Four years after that, she got anotherletter, saying thatwhile things had been tough at times,he'd stayed in school.He'd stuck with it, and would soongraduate from college with thehighest of honors.Again he assured Miss Thompson thatshe was still the best andfavorite teacher he'd ever had.Then four more years passed, and yetanother letter came.After he got his bachelor's degree hehad decided to go a little further.She was still the best and favoriteteacher he'd ever had.But now his name was a littlelonger...the letter was signed "Theodore F.Stallard, M.D."The story does not end here.There was yet another letter thatspring.Teddy said he'd met this girl and wasgoing to be married.He explained that his father had dieda couple of yearsago, and he was wondering if MissThompson might agree to sit at thewedding in the place that was usuallyreserved for the mother of the groom.Of course, Miss Thompson did.And guess what?She wore that bracelet, the one withseveral rhinestones missing.Moreover, she made sure she waswearing the perfume that Teddyrememberedhis mother wearing on their lastChristmas together.They hugged each other, and Dr.Stallard whispered in Miss Thompson'sear:"Thank you for believing in me.Thank you so much for making me feelimportant andshowing me that I could make adifference."Miss Thompson, with tears in her eyes,whispered back.She said, "Teddy you have it all wrong.You were the one who taught me that Icould make a difference.I didn't know how to teach until I metyou!"You can never tell what type of impactyou may have on another's lifeby your actions ... or lack of action.Please consider this fact in yourventure through life, and just tryto make a difference in someone else'slife today.

now, wipe that tear off you eye and get on with life. bummer.

Just The Girl @ 3:41:00 PM