The teacher who spent over 40 years instructing generations of students and adults, was invited to return to his former school on the pretext of participating in an intimate ceremony. However, upon walking into the school’s hall to be greeted by desks lined not with pupils and adults, but rather with his ex-students, today engineers, doctors as well as parents and professional.
Unbelieving, he was presented with an assortment of “exam papers.” But when he started to read the paper, he was overcome with tears. The papers were not part of an exam, but rather it was a thank-you note written by hand.
One student penned a note about how his support in a tough year helped give her confidence in the pursuit of medical studies. A different student wrote about the patience the teacher displayed while she struggled with math. This kindness she said she incorporated into her teaching career. Letter after letter, line following letter instructor recognized how profoundly his teaching and words were shaping the lives of students prior to him.
When he spoke, the room was silent, apart from his nervous voice. He finally broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the outpouring of appreciation. “I always wondered if I made a difference,” the man said in a soft voice. “Today, you’ve answered me.”
The tale of The Teacher’s Last Exam has since been shared with thousands of people online, and serves as a reminder for the immense impact that educators can have on students beyond the classroom and textbooks.
The teacher was thrilled. It wasn’t a simple surprise, it was the most significant exam the teacher had ever had. The exam was marked with tears, laughter, and hearts that were forever transformed.
