Making a Difference
From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teacher Tales
By Linda Heffner

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
~Robert Louis Stevenson

Reflecting on more than two decades of teaching is not as easy as it may sound. My experiences have been many, the students diverse, the days long, my patience tested, but my endurance strong. You see, I always promised myself that I wouldn’t just do something to “do it.” I wouldn’t just occupy a desk, office, or classroom for the goal of punching in and punching out. My goal was to wake up in the morning with a purpose, spend my days helping children understand, and fall asleep knowing that I made a difference. It was a good goal... noble, respectable, and simple.

I’ve never been confused about my purpose and I thoroughly enjoy being involved with a child’s learning and understanding. However, have I achieved my goal? Do I fall asleep every night knowing that I made a difference that day? Humbly, the answer is no. As a matter of fact, the days spent hoping that I am making a difference far outnumber the days of knowing. (Keep reading)