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get cards and letters from some of them, thanking me about things that I had sometimes not even remembered.

Another way I helped students on a regular basis was to listen to them. Sometimes I felt like half teacher and half guidance counselor. Our school had guidance counselors, but some students didn't feel comfortable discussing personal problems with strangers. Since they knew me better, they would often bring their troubles to me. Sometimes they just needed a sounding board, and other times they asked for advice. I always made sure I was approachable. The short time I spent listening to students on a one-to-one basis did not cost me a cent, yet it was often invaluable to the troubled teen.

As a teacher, I had the opportunity to shape lives. I always felt that teenagers were at the crossroads of childhood and adulthood, and they were at the critical point of shaping the kind of adult they would ultimately become. If a few bucks or a few minutes of my time would help them solve their problems or help them choose a career or college, I was more than willing to do so. My rewards have been rich. They come to me years later, as a successful nurse, or teacher, or social worker, and tell me what a difference I made in their lives. I assure you, the feeling this gives me is indescribable!

Since I retired from teaching, I miss the opportunities it provided. As I was ordering Christmas presents for my grandchildren a couple of months ago, I thought about how I could impact the lives of children this holiday season. I went to my local DEFACS and asked about adopting a family for Christmas.

The case worker was elated that I was willing to help. She told me their most destitute family was one with ten children. I didn't think I could afford to buy for ten kids, but I hated to turn her down. I talked to my best friend, Sandy, about the situation, and she agreed to help. I called the social worker and told her we'd take the family.

We spent weeks buying clothes, toys, shoes, books, and school supplies for the kids and the parents. Always the teacher, I also used it as a learning experience for my grandchhildren. I assigned each of them one child to buy toys for. I hope this made them realize how fortunate they are, along with the fact that not everyone will awaken Christmas morning to a tree full of toys. I also hoped that the exercise would instill in them a desire to help others.

After Christmas, we got a letter from the father of the family we helped. He said it was, by far, the best Christmas his children had ever had. They had begged and begged for a Play Station, but he couldn't afford to buy them one. But we had purchased one for them among numerous other toys and games. That letter started off my new year with joy and hope. I hope those needy children grow up and become successful adults, and that they'll remember how a total stranger helped them in a time of need, and that they'll pay it forward someday.

There are thousands of ways to make a difference in the lives of children. Become a Big Sister or a Big Brother; volunteer to read to preschoolers; donate to a charity; take clothes to a homeless shelter; drop off toys to a halfway house for abused women and children; buy a box of Girl Scout cookies. Anything you can do to help children will ensure that we have a future generation of citizens who are concerned about their fellow man. The world will be a better place.

Learn more about this author, Holle Abee.
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