Before I settled on writing for a living, I was pretty sure I would become a teacher. I even did some substitute teaching to help pay the bills in college, but ultimately realized I wasn't quite cut out for the job.
Being able to put up with rowdy kids, school board demands, nosy parents, and a million other responsibilities — all while preparing lesson plans to shape the young minds sitting in front of you every day — is no easy task. I'm in awe of my friends who wake up early, stay late, offer to coach teams, or mentor clubs, and still have the energy to do it all over again in the morning.
It would be so easy for teachers to get lost in the commotion or become jaded when times get tough, but it just takes a small act of kindness from one student to remind them exactly why they chose their job.
Take a look at the 11 incredible and beautiful moments below that each put a smile on a teacher's face — they definitely put a huge smile on mine as well!
Are you a teacher or know someone who is that has a similar story to tell? Let us know in the comments and be sure to SHARE with your loved ones!
[H/T: Reddit]
Thumbnail source: Wikimedia Commons
1. Sharing Is Caring
"I had a student with autism. We developed a tradition at lunch where I would ask for one of his cookies and he would say no. Sometimes I would act like I was going to take one and he would grab them. As I walked away, he would hug his cookies and smile.
"On Monday morning of Teacher Appreciation Week, he realized he didn't get me anything and started to panic. I kept reassuring him that it was ok, but he continued deeper into a 'meltdown.' He ran to his lunchbox and pulled out a cookie and gave it to me. I wish I could have kept that cookie forever." — sparker30
2. Sincere Condolences
"I took an extra week off after New Years to bury my father a few years back. First day back, student comes in a minute early and said, 'Sir, I'm sorry about your dad.'
"I smiled, said thank you, and turned toward the blackboard to finish something, and when I turned back, he was gone.
"I spotted him walking into the classroom across the hall. That's when I realized, he was in my period three class, not period two. He could've waited 45 minutes to say something, but he made that little extra effort for me." — xwhy
3. First Aid
"In the middle of teaching a math lesson to my fourth-graders, I got a paper cut. I said ouch, and then spent a grand total of about two seconds looking down to examine the damage. When I looked up, one little boy was already standing in front of me holding a Band-Aid. So darn sweet." — Sarcastic_Teacher
4. Morale Boost
"I teach private trombone lessons in middle schools. I was working with a sixth grade beginner, who was finally making some serious progress.
"An eighth-grader opens the door to the practice room. This kid has been through some stuff since I've known him, and he isn't always the nicest or most socially graceful of the middle school boys I teach.
"He looks right at the awkward little sixth-grader and said something along the lines of: 'You sound great, man! I remember hearing you when you first started at the beginning of the year, and you've made a ton of progress! Keep it up!'
"Seeing my formerly troubled student act with such maturity and kindness, and seeing how happy it made the younger boy was amazing. I may have teared up just a tiny bit." — arac62
5. Lasting Impression
"As the art teacher, I don't have more than an hour a week with some of my students, but they will continue to be my students next year, too.
"Some of my students recently entered a portrait contest with the topic being, 'heroes in my life.' A student who has been in my classes for around seven years entered a portrait of my likeness.
"I didn't see the entries until I opened the winners announcement sent to the school. Made me feel valued." — BlitheBadger
6. Sweet Perk
"Was teaching English at a school in the countryside of Chile. Word had gotten around that I used to work in coffee shops. An eighth-grader (not my grade level) surprised me one morning with a thermos of hot percolated Italian roast and said, 'Now you don't have to drink that stuff in the teachers room.'" — Signifikantotter
7. Fine Jewelry
"A kid came up to me the one day, hugged me, told me they loved me, and gave me a necklace with those little plastic letter beads on it that spelt out my name. I still have that necklace." — –anonymoose–
8. Tidying Up
"Whenever I see a student go out of their way to pick up some trash that isn't theirs or stack a chair another kid left behind simply because they want to — not to get praise." — theformatisfun
9. Taking Notes
"Today while I was working with one group and had my back to another. One of the girls in the group with my back to it went up to the board and just wrote, not in any huge font, 'We appreciate you Mr. PBR.'
"Didn't say anything and I didn't notice until it was planning, but it was sweet." — PBRstreetgang21
10. Royal Treatment
"A little girl pointed at me and said to her friend, 'she's a princess!' Heart melted forever." — btway
11. Perfect Attendance
"Last month, a student was switched out of my class because of schedule changes for an unrelated course. I made sure to greet her in the hall and let her know she was welcome if she needed anything.
"Two weeks ago, she showed up at my door with a new schedule. My class was on it. She told me: 'Mr. Assistant Principal is trying to get me to come to school more. I told him I'd try harder to get here if I could be put into your class.'
"That girl hasn't missed a day of school since." — rhymeswithmacarena
Are you a teacher or know one who's experienced a heartwarming moment like these? Let us know below and be sure to SHARE with your loved ones!
These stories are based on posts found on Reddit. Reddit is a user-generated social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website where registered members submit content to the site and can up- or down-vote the content. The accuracy and authenticity of each story cannot be confirmed by our staff.
