The Best Teacher in the World
ONE DROP IN THE PONDBy Carrie Younce
Unlike some in his profession, my sixth-grade English teacher -- Mr. Duncan -- seemed to realize that the true blessing of being a teacher is in the opportunity to help shape a human soul.
Since I attended nine schools in twelve years, it seemed as if I was always the "new kid." After turning in one particularly lengthy poetry assignment, Mr. Duncan asked me to stay after class.
"This is very good," he said. "And very sad. Why are you so sad?"
When I complained that I just didn't fit in, Mr. Duncan folded his hands on his desk and said, "Look at my fingers. They all have a place. They all fit. That's the way God made it. You also have a place. The adventure is in finding it."
"Is the poem really good?" I asked. "I mean, I want to be really good like Stephen King or Shakespeare."
"Why do you want to be like someone else? You are capable of so much more than that. Just be yourself; be spectacular."
He encouraged me to push toward the edge. "There are no boundaries set for excellence," he proclaimed. "There are only guidelines that, if followed, will yield much ... read full excerpt from The Best Teacher in the World ebook
