Gemotions

Mr. Fitzwilliam felt the familiar weight of self-doubt. Another parent complaint, another performance review that felt critical. He had begun to question his abilities, his effectiveness as a teacher.

A package arrived, bearing the return address of a student he had once helped through a difficult time. Inside: a custom-made coffee mug, emblazoned with a quote about perseverance.

He touched the smooth ceramic, tracing the words with his finger. He remembered the struggle, the resistance, the breakthrough. He’d helped.

He felt a new fire ignite within him, a refusal to be extinguished. He had seen the results, and he felt a burst of conviction. He decided to email that parent back.