The Difference One Can Make

It breaks my heart to think that the children whom we all love have times that they feel inadequate. That nobody knows what they are going through; that no one understands.

I, like every child had these moments. Yet I seem to have had them more than usual. I was very fortunate though, when many children don’t have what I did. I had teachers who made me feel like I was the only student. They genuinely cared about me. Their love of learning, and the desire they felt to help others learn radiated their entire being. During those elementary days I may have only had the support and confidence from my teacher at school, but their love was always enough. It is this love that I received starting in elementary school that made me think of the influence I could have.

This feeling of importance continued to increase when I got to junior high. I was terrible when it came to gym. I loved to play the sports, but I hated running, I was slower than the other kids and I was sure that all the other students were laughing behind my back. This could have had the makings of horrible experiences were it not for my gym teacher, Coach Redman. Coach Redman had a way of making the worst students feel like they were the most important of all. She did it for me everyday. I felt so special because Coach Redman knew my name, would joke around with me, and always took the time to make sure I was personally having fun. While there were easily over one-hundred students in that class it didn’t matter because it felt like I was the only one.

While I would never consider myself to be the most popular, brightest or the most confident student even today, I know that I am more so than what I would be if not for my teachers. For this reason, I believe in education. I believe in the power that teachers have on their students. They have the power to see what no one else sees in the shy little girl.

I have seen firsthand the possibilities and impact that a teacher can have on their students. It certainly isn’t easy, and it will cause a great deal of stress and anxiety everyday. However none of that matters when you see the light flicker, and then fully ignite in the life of a child. Teachers can have an astounding impact on children. I believe in education. I believe in helping a child love to learn. I believe in helping a child see and then achieve their full potential. I believe in making a difference.