Reach out and touch someone

Here is the story of an elementary schoolteacher:

Her name was Mrs. Nori. As she stood in front of her primary five class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Ali.

Mrs. Nori had watched Ali the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Ali could be unpleasant. It got the point where Mrs. Nori would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Nori taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Ali's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Ali's primary one teacher wrote, "Ali is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners .... he is a joy to be around."

His primary two teacher wrote, "Ali is an excellent student, well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His primary three teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Ali's primary four teacher wrote, "Ali is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Nori realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Teachers' Day presents wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Ali's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.

Mrs. Nori took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stone missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.

Ali stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Nori, 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 quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Nori paid particular attention to Ali. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Ali had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Ali became one of her "Teacher's Pets."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Ali, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Ali. He then wrote that he had finished sixth form third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been rough at times, he'd stayed in school, stuck with it, and would soon graduate from university with highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Nori that she was still the best and favorite teacher he'd ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he'd ever had. But now his name was a little longer - the letter was signed, Ali S, MD.

The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that year. Ali said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years earlier and he was wondering if Mrs. Nori might agree to sit in the place at the wedding which was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

Of course, Mrs. Nori did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Ali remembered his mother wearing on their last moments together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Ali whispered in Mrs. Nori's ear. Thank you, Mrs. Nori for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference. Mrs. Nori, with tears in her eyes, whispered back, "Ali, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

Please remember that wherever you go, and whatever you do, you will have the opportunity to touch and/or change a person's outlook. Please try to do it in a positive way.