optimism

Teachers have a big impact on our kids. Children spend hours every day in the classroom, so having someone who cares and who is passionate in charge of their learning makes all the difference. Especially when we have sensitive children or those with special needs. That’s why one teacher’s unique way of letting a student know he had failed a test struck a chord. The boy's mom was so touched that she shared the note on social media, where it has since gone viral. An Uplifting Note Ben Twist was a sixth-grade student at Lansbury Bridge School and Sports College in St. Helens. The school is for children with special needs, and in Grade 2 they take Stage 1 of a Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). Then, in Grade 6 they take another version of it. Ben was diagnosed with autism when he was five. And when he was in Grade 6, he was the only child in the school to take the SAT. Unfortunately, he failed, but the boy’s teacher, Ms. Ruth Clarkson, wanted to ensure that Ben knew exactly what that meant. So she wrote a note home explaining it. “A very important piece of information,” she wrote. “I want you to understand these tests only measure a little bit of you and your abilities. They are important, and you have done so well, but Ben Twist is made up of many other skills and talents.” The educator then listed some of Ben’s other attributes, such as his ability to work in a team, his kindness, his independence, and his ability to express his opinion. “These are all of the things we measure to reassure us that you are always making progress and continuing to develop as a lovely bright young man,” Clarkson continued. “Well done Ben, we are very proud of you.” Going Viral When Ben’s mom, Gail Twist, read the note, she was moved to tears and posted it on Twitter for everyone else to read. There, more than 11,000 people liked it and it was shared nearly six thousand times. “I just didn't expect it at all,” she told ABC News. “For someone to take the time to think about it and write that, it shocked me. It just broke me. It's great when there's something positive to share about such a wonderful teacher.” She added how Ben thought the letter was awesome, and how all of the teachers at the school — including the five in Ben’s class — are standout examples of what educators should be. “Ben is sensitive, and he does worry about things, and I wish more schools did things like this,” she told the Liverpool Echo. “He is all of the things they wrote about him – he is an amazing person. I think their words will stay with him if we keep reminding him what they said about him… It’s just a beautiful thing to do.” Focusing On the Positive Sometimes in life we can become consumed with things like not passing a test, going through a layoff, not getting the job we want, or other perceived failures. But Ms. Clarkson reminds all of us that there is so much more to us than one little thing. It’s a beautiful reminder in life to try and focus on the positives, even when the negatives tend to stick out. There are silver linings if we take time to look and remember the old saying, “This too shall pass.” We’re quick to point out all of the good and positive things for other people in our lives, but this story reminds us that we should also remember to do that for ourselves. No one is perfect, nor should we strive for perfection. Instead, so long as we remember to be good people and to love one another, we’re all going to be okay. More from Goalcast: Teacher Hand Delivers Free Lunches to His Students at Their House – But That Wasn’t All He Brought Teacher Asks Her Low Income Students to Submit Christmas Wishes – What She Reads Breaks Her Heart Parents Find Out Their 9-Year-Old Son Has Given $15 to His Teacher – The Reason Why Brings Them to Tears