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POTENTIAL
by Emily Park Webster's dictionary defines the word potential as: existing in possibility; capable of development into actuality. It likewise defines ambition as the desire to achieve a particular end. All of us are given potential. Some of us nurture our potential, helping it blossom and grow, while others choose to dwell on past defeats, thereby starving the potential that lies within us. The same applies to the ambitions we strive so hard to achieve. Many of us cultivate our ambitions and see them grow and mature into objects of our desires, while others tend to stifle or repress these realistic dreams for their futures, wiping out any hope for future success. Let me share with you a life changing event which took place many years ago. Due to the remarkable foresight of a very gifted and optimistic third grade schoolteacher, events happened that changed the life of an eight year old child. Because this teacher saw potential in one of her students, that student went on to achieve personal ambitions that could have been smothered within for years, or possibly a lifetime. Had this gifted teacher not been willing to sacrifice time, patience, and belief, things could have turned out much differently in this child's life. Catherine Nelson was the type of teacher all students needed. She was from the "old school", meaning her values, her responsibilities and her desire to touch the lives of her students went beyond the blackboard teachings of the 1960's. She was the type of teacher who consistently demanded her student's best efforts in all endeavors, believed in discipline, demanded and received respect from students and parents alike, and taught with a firm but loving hand. One of her students, a little girl who was extremely quiet and shy, struck a tender chord within Mrs. Nelson. Something about this child drew the teacher to her, and tugged at her heart strings. She noticed this child always completed her work on time, never presented a discipline problem, did not speak out of turn in class, and was always willing to interact well with the other children. There was only one thing that seemed to be holding her back from complete acceptance by the other students -- a slight speech impediment. She had a stuttering problem, and perhaps this gave the impression to others in the class that she was not as "advanced" as they, or perhaps that she did not quite "fit in." Children can be somewhat bias in their feelings, tending to go "with the group", or wanting to be "part of the crowd", rather than risking taunts from their peers. To actively accept another child into their intimate group, especially one who may have a disability or impediment, causes them to think that they too may be labeled "unacceptable" to others. At the beginning of the school year, Mrs. Nelson had a "rewards program". This little program was a weekly event in which the students would cast votes for two classmates they thought to be the most well behaved students for the prior week. If chosen, the students would be given special privileges, such as running errands for Mrs. Nelson, washing the blackboard prior to dismissal daily, taking the morning lunch count for the cafeteria, etc. Every week, this one little girl would sit quietly at her desk, hoping against hope that this would be the one week she would be chosen as "most well behaved." Each week, when all of the votes were cast, it was always someone else who would win the great honor. On one such week, probably in mid January or February, well into the school year, the normal Friday afternoon votes were counted. Once again, the one shy little girl was not chosen. It did hurt, but the child went on as if it was alright within, all the while feeling the pain of rejection. This was nothing new because it happened weekly, and the little girl had resigned herself to accepting this as part of life. On this one particular Friday, Mrs. Nelson, sitting at her desk in the front of the classroom, quietly told the class she had a question for them. Everyone waited for her to begin. "I have noticed", she began, "that we have a student in our class who always turns her work in promptly. She never causes any disruption in our class, always appears to be willing to please, and accepts all of you as her friends. I have often wondered during this year, why this little girl is never chosen as "most well behaved" as you vote. I believe she needs to be given the opportunity to serve, as well as some of you. In fact, many of you have been given this special chance to serve more than once." Mrs. Nelson, rising from her sitting position and peering over the tops of her glasses, looked at each student. The silence was deafening. She then proceeded to say, "Would anyone who voted today like to change your vote for this week?" After a few seconds of utter silence and stillness, one boy in the back of the class raised his hand and said, "Mrs. Nelson, you can change my vote." The teacher nodded her agreement. Slowly, several more hands went up to have their votes changed as well. Needless to say, the little girl won that week, and began winning more often from that day on. A week or two later, just before the bell rang for dismissal, Mrs. Nelson walked over to the desk of the little girl, and told her in no uncertain terms that she wanted her to remain after school for a few moments. The "summons" to stay after school usually meant trouble, and the little girl could not figure out what she had done that was so wrong. It must have been something bad to cause Mrs. Nelson to demand she stay after school. When the bell rang and the students filed out one by one, the little girl remained at her desk, looking down at her books, a huge knot forming in her stomach, tears beginning to well in her eyes as she contemplated what Mrs. Nelson was going to say. She wondered how she could have disappointed her teacher to such an extent that she was being kept after school. "I'll be with you in just a minute. I have to finish writing this letter to your mother", Mrs. Nelson said in her usual "teacher" voice. Those few minutes seemed like hours to the child. The clock ticked on endlessly, echoing throughout the almost empty classroom. Finally, Mrs. Nelson walked over to the child's desk and handed the note to her, sealed in it's stark white envelope. The child took it with trembling hands. "Give this to your mother when you get home," she said. "It is a letter asking permission for you to remain after school twice a week." The little girl could not hold the tears back any longer. She looked at Mrs. Nelson with such bewilderment on her little face, tears beginning to trickle down her cheeks. The wise teacher saw this and touched her weathered hand upon the tiny hand of the child. She reached into her pocket with her other hand and drew out some tissue, tenderly wiping the child's tear stained cheeks. "Honey", Mrs. Nelson began as she slowly sat down at the desk right next to the child. "You have done nothing wrong. The letter to your mother is asking permission that will allow me the opportunity to work with you weekly on some speech matters. I believe I can help you, but it will take effort on your part as well as mine. You see, I once had a speech problem very similar to yours, and I found a way to conquer it. I believe you can do that also, but we have to work together. Are you willing to stay after school and let me help you?" The child, relieved that she was not in any trouble, yet still somewhat bewildered, suddenly felt a strong bond with her teacher. She felt the love from the teacher and knew in that instant that not only was Mrs. Nelson a special teacher, but Mrs. Nelson thought that she was a special student also. She smiled at the teacher, and agreed to stay after school for the needed help. Proudly she carried the letter in her little hands, running home as fast as she could. She excitedly gave the letter to her mother, who was so moved that this teacher was willing to help her child. Permission was readily and happily granted, and the child stayed weekly after school with her teacher, diligently working toward a goal. Those weeks turned into months, but Mrs. Nelson and the child worked together, overcoming the obstacles facing this little girl. Week after week, the little girl learned to speak slowly. She learned to substitute words of similar meaning, using them in sentences whenever and wherever she felt the urge to stutter. For example "grass" may be substituted for the word "lawn", or "present" may be the perfect substitute for "gift", etc. Mrs. Nelson even made "flashcards" and would hold those cards up, causing the child to immediately substitute a different word for the word being given. These twice weekly drills became a game, and the child quickly caught on. Before long, this child was speaking complete sentences, only occasionally stuttering. After a while, the stuttering problem was completely tackled, hands down, and life began anew for this one little girl. You see, Mrs. Nelson saw the potential in this child. Due to this remarkable gift of foresight by a loving and caring teacher, this child not only developed a desire to succeed, she also developed ambition. Her self esteem improved, reaching heights never before thought possible, her acceptance by her peers soared to new levels, and she developed a bond with a teacher, that time never erased. Throughout the years, this student never forgot Mrs. Nelson. She remembered her birthdays, always remembered to write her or send cards throughout the year, and every year made sure Mrs. Nelson had a small, but treasured Christmas gift. Mrs. Nelson was at the high school graduation of this special student, and she was one of the first guests to arrive at the church the day the former student was married. Because of a special teacher, the seeds of ambition, nurtured by a great potential within, a new flower not only grew, but blossomed. After the little girl grew up and was married, she called Mrs. Nelson one day to ask "her permission" for a special event. She was about to have a baby, and she wanted to ask Mrs. Nelson if it would be alright with her if she named the baby Catherine, if it happened to be a girl. Mrs. Nelson, at first shocked but awed by this gesture, yet all the while being overwhelmed with joy and almost disbelief that a former student would honor her in such a way, gladly granted "permission" through her tears of happiness. "I cannot think of any greater honor than what you have bestowed upon me," she began, choking back her tears as she spoke those words. "This is unbelievable. I can never thank you enough for what you want to do for me. I am praying and hoping for a girl !" A few weeks after that call, Mrs. Nelson arrived at her former student's home with a gift. "The day after you called me with your news of the baby, I went and bought the material and supplies to make this special embroidered piece of art. It is embroidered with my love and special remembrance, and it is with deep love and affection that I give this to you, hoping you will refer to it daily", she excitedly said. The young expectant mother opened it quickly and inside the box was the most beautiful hand embroidered, framed piece of artwork she had ever seen. Hours and hours of painstaking stitching had gone into this precious gift. Nestled among the vibrant blue of the bluebirds and the ornate, colorful flowers that were within the center of the embroidery were the heartfelt words "To love and be loved is the greatest joy on earth". The beautiful golden hue of the frame seemed to take on a new radiant burst of color as the warm beams of sunlight danced across it's borders. The happy "mother to be" embraced her former teacher, all the while thanking God for allowing this special lady to enter her life many years earlier. "You helped mold me into who I am today", she whispered into her ear. A few months later, the Lord answered the prayer of Mrs. Nelson and her former student. A healthy, eight pound baby girl was born on March 2, 1974, and aptly named Catherine Elizabeth, in honor of a much loved teacher who not only saw great potential in a student, but began the nourishment of pure ambitions that still strive within her heart and soul today. Mrs. Nelson had her "namesake", and was as proud of "Little Catherine" as if she was her own--but as I often thought through the years, perhaps "Little Catherine" really was a part of Mrs. Nelson. This marvellous teacher, this great lady, who instilled so much into one of her students, perhaps because this seed took root and sprouted, and then grew throughout the years, because this molded the student into the lady she became, she would impart her gift to others, including her child. How great this selfless gift had become. How can you measure a gift of such magnitude? "Little Catherine" has since grown into a beautiful young woman, who followed in Mrs. Nelson's footsteps. Catherine is also a schoolteacher and teaches in a local high school, enjoying every minute of it. She is certainly in her element, but she also briefly had the opportunity to witness the workings of a special lady, and she has the memories her mother shares of this great educator to last her a lifetime ! On a sad note, our dear Mrs. Nelson passed away a few years ago, but her legacy and the lives of countless students whom she touched lives on forever. She will never be forgotten, especially by the shy little girl who was so blessed and so fortunate to have her as a special teacher and lifelong friend. I know this to be a true story, because I was the little girl she touched. Emily Park July 2009 Married to a government engineer and proud Mom of three grown children. Also the proud "Bubbe" of one adorable and active two year old. I've been serving the Lord in music ministry for 30 years and am the music director/organist of a local church where my husband and I are actively involved. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |