Foreword:

Everyday,teachershavethepowertomakeadifferenceinthelivesoftheirstudents.Asimpleactofkindness,likepraisingastudentfortheirhardwork,canbeenoughtochangetheiroutlookonlife.Inthisstory,wefollowthejourneyofateacherandherstudentastheynavigatetheupsanddownsoftheeducationsystem.

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Mrs.Liwasateacheratalocalhighschool.Shehadbeenteachingforover20yearsandhadseencountlessstudentscomeandgo.However,onestudentstoodouttoher-aboynamedJack.

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Jackwasaquietstudentwhorarelyspokeinclass.Hehadaveragegradesanddidn'tseemparticularlyinterestedinanysubject.Mrs.Linoticedthatheoftenslumpedinhisseatandrarelymadeeyecontactwithanyone.

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Oneday,Mrs.Lidecidedtotrysomethingdifferent.InsteadofcriticizingJackforhislackofparticipation,shepraisedhimforhishardworkonarecentassignment.Tohersurprise,Jack'sfacelitupwithasmile.

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Fromthatmomenton,Mrs.LimadeitapointtopraiseJackwhenevershecould.Whetheritwasforhisattendance,hishomework,orhiseffortsinclass,shealwaysfoundsomethingpositivetosay.

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Slowlybutsurely,Jackstartedtocomeoutofhisshell.Hebeganparticipatinginclassdiscussionsandevenaskedquestionsfromtimetotime.Hisgradesimprovedaswell,andheseemedmoreinterestedinhisstudies.

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Oneday,Mrs.LiaskedJackwhyhehadbeensoquietbefore.Heopeneduptoheraboutsomepersonalstruggleshehadbeenfacingathomeandhowtheyhadaffectedhisconfidenceinschool.

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Mrs.Lilistenedattentivelyandofferedwordsofencouragement.ShetoldJackthatshebelievedinhimandthathehadthepotentialtoachievegreatthings.

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Overtime,Jack'sconfidencegrew.Hestartedtobelieveinhimselfandhisabilities.Heevenjoinedaschoolclubandmadenewfriends.

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Attheendoftheschoolyear,Mrs.LinominatedJackforanacademicaward.Hewasshockedwhenhereceivedit,butMrs.Liwasnotsurprised.Sheknewthathehadworkedhardanddeservedtherecognition.

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Yearswentby,andMrs.Liretiredfromteaching.However,sheneverforgotaboutJackandoftenwonderedwhathadbecomeofhim.

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Oneday,shereceivedaletterfromJack.Hewrotethathehadgoneontocollegeandhadgraduatedwithhonors.HethankedMrs.Liforbelievinginhimwhennooneelsedid.

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TheletterbroughttearstoMrs.Li'seyes.Sherealizedthatasimpleactofkindness-praisingastudent-hadchangedsomeone'slifeforever.

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Fromthatdayon,Mrs.Limadeithermissiontopraiseherstudentswhenevershecould.Sheknewthateveryoneneededalittlebitofencouragementfromtimetotime.

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Yearslater,atMrs.Li'sretirementparty,ayoungmanapproachedherwithtearsinhiseyes.ItwasJack,allgrownupandsuccessfulinhiscareer.

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HehuggedMrs.Liandtoldherthathewouldneverforgettheimpactshehadonhislife.Hesaidthatherwordsofpraisehadgivenhimtheconfidenceheneededtosucceed.

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Mrs.Lismiledandhuggedhimback,feelinggratefulthatshehadbeenabletomakeadifferenceinsomeone'slife.

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Asthepartycontinued,Mrs.Lirealizedthatshehadtouchedmanylivesthroughouthercareer.Shehadbeenamentor,arolemodel,andafriendtoherstudents.

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Sheknewthatteachingwasn'tjustaboutimpartingknowledge-itwasaboutmakingapositiveimpactonsomeone'slife.

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Asshelookedaroundtheroom,Mrs.Lifeltasenseofprideandfulfillment.Sheknewthatshehaddoneherbesttohelpherstudentssucceed.

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Asthenightcametoanend,Mrs.Lisaidgoodbyetoherformerstudentsandcolleagues.Shefeltasenseofcontentmentknowingthatshehadleftalastingimpressionontheirlives.

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Asshewalkedoutofthebuilding,Mrs.LithoughtaboutJackandalltheotherstudentsshehadtaughtovertheyears.Sheknewthatshewouldneverforgetthemandthattheywouldalwaysholdaspecialplaceinherheart.

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Andso,thepowerofpraisecontinuedtoliveonintheheartsandmindsofthosewhohadbeentouchedbyMrs.Li'skindnessandgenerosity.Itwasareminderthatalittlebitofencouragementcouldgoalongwayinchangingsomeone'slifeforever.