The Difference a Teacher Can Make
Steve， a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents， was about to be lost forever， by the U.S. education system. Remarkably， he could read， yet， in spite of his reading skills， Steve was failing. He had been failing since first grade， as he was passed on from grade to grade. Steve was a big boy， looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old， yet， Steve went unnoticed…… until Miss White.
Miss White was a smiling， young， beautiful redhead， and Steve was in love！ For the first time in his young life， he couldn't take his eyes off his teacher； yet， still he failed. He never did his homework， and he was always in trouble with Miss White. His heart would break under her sharp words， and when he was punished for failing to turn in his homework， he felt just miserable！ Still， he did not study.
In the middle of the first semester of school， the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests， and continued to dream of other things， as the day wore on. His heart was not in school， but in the woods， where he often escaped alone， trying to shut out the sights， sounds and smells of his alcoholic home. No one checked on him to see if he was safe. No one knew he was gone， because no one was sober enough to care. Oddly， Steve never missed a day of school.
One day， Miss White's impatient voice broke into his daydreams.
"Steve！！" Startled， he turned to look at her.
"Pay attention！"
Steve locked his gaze on Miss White with adolescent adoration， as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.
"You all did pretty well，" she told the class， "except for one boy， and it breaks my heart to tell you this， but……" She hesitated， pinning Steve to his seat with a sharp stare， her eyes searching his face.
"……The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class！"
She just stared at Steve， as the class spun around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.
After that， it was war！！ Steve still wouldn't do his homework. Even as the punishments became more severe， he remained stubborn.
"Just try it！ ONE WEEK！" He was unmoved.
"You're smart enough！ You'll see a change！" Nothing fazed him.
"Give yourself a chance！ Don't give up on your life！" Nothing.
"Steve！ Please！ I care about you！"
Wow！ Suddenly， Steve got it！！ Someone cared about him？ Someone， totally unattainable and perfect， CARED ABOUT HIM？？！！
Steve went home from school， thoughtful， that afternoon. Walking into the house， he took one look around. Both parents were passed out， in various stages of undress， and the stench was overpowering！ He， quickly， gathered up his camping gear， a jar of peanut butter， a loaf of bread， a bottle of water， and this time……his schoolbooks. Grim faced and determined， he headed for the woods.
The following Monday he arrived at school on time， and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in， all sparkle and smiles！ God， she was beautiful！ He yearned for her smile to turn on him. It did not.
Miss White， immediately， gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test， and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise， Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled， she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk， his heart pounding within his chest. As he sat down， he couldn't resist another look at the lovely woman.
Miss White's face was in total shock！ She glanced up at Steve， then down， then up. Suddenly， her face broke into a radiant smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test！
From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same， but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn， but he was good at it！ He discovered that he could understand and retain knowledge， and that he could translate the things he learned into his own life. Steve began to excel！ And he continued this course throughout his school life.
After high-school Steve enlisted in the Navy， and he had a successful military career. During that time， he met the love of his life， he raised a family， and he graduated from college Magna Cum Laude. During his Naval career， he inspired many young people， who without him， might not have believed in themselves. Steve began a second career after the Navy， and he continues to inspire others， as an adjunct professor in a nearby college
Miss White left a great legacy. She saved one boy who has changed many lives. I know， because I am the love of his life.
You see， it's simple， really. A change took place within the heart of one boy， all because of one teacher， who cared.
史蒂夫已经12岁了，他的父母都是酒鬼，他就要彻底脱离自己的学校生活了。然而很明显，他能够阅读，但他总不及格。从一年级开始，一年一年过去了，他依然不及格。史蒂夫长得很健壮，看上去比12岁的孩子要大。但他一直都被人忽略，直到有一天怀特小姐的到来。
怀特小姐总是笑容可掬，年轻，而且有一头迷人的红头发。她是史蒂夫喜欢的类型。这是他平生第一次，无法把眼睛从老师身上移开，然而，他还是不及格。他没有做作业，他总是找怀特小姐的碴。每次她说出尖刻的话时，他都感到自己的心已经碎了。每次完不成作业被罚的时候，他都感到非常痛苦。但他依然不学习。
在第一学期的期中，整个七年级要进行基础技能测验。史蒂夫匆匆完成了自己的测验，并继续一天天地幻想其他的事情。他的心并不在学校，而在他经常独自躲藏的树林，在那里，他试图摆脱酒鬼之家的声响和气味。没有人关心他到底安不安全。也没有人知道他已经走了，因为所有的人都兴奋地没有精力顾及其他。不过奇怪地是，史蒂夫从没有旷过一次课。
一天，怀特小姐急躁的声音打破了他的白日梦。
"史蒂夫！"他感到很吃惊，转过头去看着她。
"注意力要集中！"
她宣布七年级测验结果的时候，史蒂夫用那种青春期特有的崇敬盯着怀特小姐。
她对全班说："你们都考得很好。除了一个男生。告诉你们这个真让我感到伤心。但是……"她停顿了一下，眼光转向史蒂夫的座位，用犀利的目光在他的脸上搜寻着什么。
"我们七年级最聪明的孩子，我的科目竟然不及格！"
她盯着史蒂夫，全班同学都转过头来看着他。史蒂夫低下头，盯着自己的指尖。
然而，在那之后，战争依然继续！史蒂夫依然不想做作业。即使惩罚更加严厉，他依然非常顽固。
"就试一下！一个星期也可以啊！"而他依然无动于衷。
"你非常聪明！你会有很大的变化！"任何话语都无法打动他。
"给自己一个机会！不要放弃自己的生活。"依然无动于衷。
"史蒂夫，求求你。我很关心你！"
哦！突然，史蒂夫好像明白了！有人关心他？有人竟然不可思议地关心他？
那天下午，史蒂夫满怀思绪地回了家。走进屋子之后，他环顾了一下四周。发现父母裸露着身子已经睡了。屋子里的恶臭让人无法忍受。他迅速找齐自己的露营装备，一瓶花生酱，一块面包，一瓶水，而且这次他还带上了自己的课本。脸上带着严肃和决心，他又去了树林。
接下来的周一早上，他准时到了学校，等着怀特小姐走进教室。她神采飞扬地走进来了，脸上带着微笑。天哪！她真是太漂亮了！他希望她能对他微笑，但是没有。
怀特小姐立刻决定对周末的家庭作业进行测验。史蒂夫很快完成了测验，并且第一个交上了答卷。怀特小姐满脸惊奇地收下了他的卷子。很明显，她是满怀疑惑的批阅试卷。史蒂夫回到自己的座位，心怦怦直跳。坐下之后，他禁不住再次看了一眼这位美丽的女士。
怀特小姐的脸上充满了惊奇。她瞟了一眼史蒂夫，然后又低下头去，但又再次抬起头来。突然，她的脸上绽放出了笑容。七年级最聪明的男孩终于第一次通过了测验。
从那一刻起，史蒂夫如同换了一个人。虽然家里的生活依旧，但他的生活确实发生了变化。他发现自己不仅能够学习，而且能够学得很好！他发现，自己能够理解并牢牢记住知识，并能将学到的知识运用到自己的生活中。史蒂夫开始变得非常优秀。而且在他的整个学生生涯中，他一直非常优秀。
高中毕业之后，史蒂夫应征加入了海军，并且在军队中也非常成功。那段时间，他认识了自己生命中的最爱，有了自己的家庭，并从Magna Cum Laude大学毕业。在他的海军生涯中，他激励了很多年轻人。如果没有他，这些人可能无法认识到自己的价值。从海军退伍之后，史蒂夫开始了第二职业，他在附近的一所大学担任副教授，并继续启迪他人。
怀特小姐留下了宝贵的财产。她挽救了一个改变许多其他生命的男孩。我了解这些，因为我就是他生命中的最爱。
看到了吗？其实就是这么简单。仅仅由于一个老师的关心，一个男孩的内心发生了巨大的变化。
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