Stories from the Heart

This story is one that will stick with my forever.  John*(name changed) is a heavily medicated ADHD child who has been struggling through school for years.  Each year John would not do his homework, fall behind, not do his class work or have a behavior issue.  The consequence is that the teacher would take away recess.  Every day this would happen and it sunk John into a depression and hatred for school.  The school he was at expected every child to be cookie cutter and fit into a mold of sit at your desk and not talk or move.  Obviously that was unrealistic for John.  Until this year.  John entered my room and many parents said to me "oh watch out for that one.  He is a handful".  Then I met John.  He shook my hand and proceeded to tell me many facts about our universe.  After ten minutes John's mom came up to me and apologized and I was shocked.  Her son had done nothing wrong and she was apologizing.  She stated how John hated school and that many teachers did not take the time to listen to him the way that I just had.  I insisted that was my job and I enjoyed or discussion.  The year progressed and John's mom sent me an email  stating how thankful she was I was John's teacher.  Not only had John started doing better in school, but he actually loved being in school and was excited about coming.  Even when he was sick, John would beg to go to school.  He was filled with enthusiasm everyday and was always sharing his great ideas with the class.  John succeed in my class and I will never forget the smile on his face the first time that I met him and he told me about the Universe.