There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher-Mrs. Thompson. Shetold the children on the first day that she loved them all the same. But that was a lie.There in the front row was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. He didn't play wellwith the other children and he always needed a bath. She did not like him.
　　Then Mrs. Thompson got to know that Teddy was actually a very good boybefore the death of his mother. Mrs. Thompson was ashamed of herself. She felteven worse when， like all her other students， Teddy brought her a Christmas presenttoo. It was his mother's perfume.
　　Teddy said， "Mrs. Thompson， today you smelled just like my Mom used to. "After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day， she quitteaching reading， and writing， and maths. Instead， she began to teach children.Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him， hismind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him， the faster he responded.
　　By the end of the year， Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class.
　　Six years went by before she got a note from Teddy. He then wrote that he hadfinished high school， third in his class， and she was still the best teacher he ever hadin his whole life. He went to college. Mrs. Thompson got two more letters from himwith the last one signed， Theodore F Stoddard， M. D.
　　The story doesn't end there. On his wedding day， they hugged each other， andDr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear， "Thank you Mrs. Thompson forbelieving in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing methat -l could make a difference. "
　　Mrs. Thompson， with tears in her eyes， whispered back. She said， "Teddy， youhave it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. Ididn-t know how to teach until I met you. "
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