When I was three years old, my parents discovered I was totally deaf.
When
I
was
three
years
old
,
my
parents
discovered
I
was
totally
deaf
.
But instead of sending me to a school for the deaf, they decided to "
But
instead
of
sending
me
to
a
school
for
the
deaf
,
they
decided
to
``
"me.
``
me
.
All of my peers and teachers world have normal hearing.
All
of
my
peers
and
teachers
world
have
normal
hearing
.
I was the only deaf child at Blue Creel Elementary School.
I
was
the
only
deaf
child
at
Blue
Creel
Elementary
School
.
From almost the first day there, the other kids made fun of me mainly because of my hearing aid and the way I talked.
From
almost
the
first
day
there
,
the
other
kids
made
fun
of
me
mainly
because
of
my
hearing
aid
and
the
way
I
talked
.
And I also had difficulty with most of my school work.
And
I
also
had
difficulty
with
most
of
my
school
work
.
When the other kids made fun of me, I was sure that I was a bad person.
When
the
other
kids
made
fun
of
me
,
I
was
sure
that
I
was
a
bad
person
.
I saw myself as a boy who wasn't smart enough to keep up with the class.
I
saw
myself
as
a
boy
who
was
n't
smart
enough
to
keep
up
with
the
class
.
Mrs. Jordan, my 5th grade teacher, changed all of that with a simple three-word phrase.
Mrs.
Jordan
,
my
5th
grade
teacher
,
changed
all
of
that
with
a
simple
three-word
phrase
.
One morning, she asked the class a question.
One
morning
,
she
asked
the
class
a
question
.
I read her lips from my front-row seat and immediately raised my hand because I was sure I had the right answer.
I
read
her
lips
from
my
front-row
seat
and
immediately
raised
my
hand
because
I
was
sure
I
had
the
right
answer
.
But when she called on me, I was afraid.
But
when
she
called
on
me
,
I
was
afraid
.
Here was an opportunity to impress the powerful teacher and show her I was worthy of her love.
Here
was
an
opportunity
to
impress
the
powerful
teacher
and
show
her
I
was
worthy
of
her
love
.
Maybe even impress my classmates a little.
Maybe
even
impress
my
classmates
a
little
.
I didn't want to blow it.
I
did
n't
want
to
blow
it
.
despite my fears, I took a deep breath and answered Mrs. Jordan's question.
despite
my
fears
,
I
took
a
deep
breath
and
answered
Mrs.
Jordan
's
question
.
I will never forget what happened next.
I
will
never
forget
what
happened
next
.
Mrs. Jordan enthusiastically slammed her right foot on the floor and turned her tight hand around in full circle until it pointed directly at me.
Mrs.
Jordan
enthusiastically
slammed
her
right
foot
on
the
floor
and
turned
her
tight
hand
around
in
full
circle
until
it
pointed
directly
at
me
.
With sparking eyes and a wide smile she cried, "THAT'S RIGHT STEPHEN!"
With
sparking
eyes
and
a
wide
smile
she
cried
,
``
THAT
'S
RIGHT
STEPHEN
!
''
For the first time in my young life, I was a star.
For
the
first
time
in
my
young
life
,
I
was
a
star
.
I sat a little taller in my chair.
I
sat
a
little
taller
in
my
chair
.
From that day forward, my grades and speech improved greatly.
From
that
day
forward
,
my
grades
and
speech
improved
greatly
.
My popularity among my peers increased.
My
popularity
among
my
peers
increased
.
It was all because Mrs. Jordan believed in me and wasn't afraid to express it.
It
was
all
because
Mrs.
Jordan
believed
in
me
and
was
n't
afraid
to
express
it
.
"THAT'S RIGHT STEPHEN!"
``
THAT
'S
RIGHT
STEPHEN
!
''
When I was three years old, my parents discovered I was totally deaf. But instead of sending me to a school for the deaf, they decided to "  "me. All of my peers and teachers world have normal hearing.  I was the only deaf child at Blue Creel Elementary School. From almost the first day there, the other kids made fun of me mainly because of my hearing aid and the way I talked. And I also had difficulty with most of my school work.  When the other kids made fun of me, I was sure that I was a bad person. I saw myself as a boy who wasn't smart enough to keep up with the class.  Mrs. Jordan, my 5th grade teacher, changed all of that with a simple three-word phrase.  One morning, she asked the class a question. I read her lips from my front-row seat and immediately raised my hand because I was sure I had the right answer. But when she called on me, I was afraid. Here was an opportunity to impress the powerful teacher and show her I was worthy of her love. Maybe even impress my classmates a little. I didn't want to blow it. despite my fears, I took a deep breath and answered Mrs. Jordan's question.  I will never forget what happened next. Mrs. Jordan enthusiastically slammed her right foot on the floor and turned her tight hand around in full circle until it pointed directly at me. With sparking eyes and a wide smile she cried, "THAT'S RIGHT STEPHEN!"  For the first time in my young life, I was a star. I sat a little taller in my chair.  From that day forward, my grades and speech improved greatly. My popularity among my peers increased. It was all because Mrs. Jordan believed in me and wasn't afraid to express it. "THAT'S RIGHT STEPHEN!"