Ms. Gardner was a vibrant and highly attractive teacher. More than her looks, although she was absolutely gorgeous by any definition of the word, it was something else that attracted people to her. She possessed a special quality, an intangible halo of the spirit, a magnetic aura that drew in all those around her. Her walk was as swift and full of grace as an eagle in flight. Her smile was embedded with warmth that could melt icebergs. The diamonds in her eyes shone like stars in a perfectly clear night sky. One could not help but feel a certain love and respect for this vivacious young woman.
One day, three of Ms. Gardner’s students were walking home from school together when they began to argue about who was their teacher’s favourite student. Each one of them held the firm conviction that it was they who were dearest to Ms. Gardner’s heart. The students contrived a plan to ask the teacher, each in their own way, whether or not they were her favourite student.
The first student, Rasheed, was a boy who often misbehaved and got in trouble in his other classes. With Ms. Gardner, however, he was calm and attentive. She, in return, treated him with respect and kindness. After school, when all of the other students had left the classroom, Rasheed approached Ms. Gardner’s desk somewhat sheepishly, “Excuse me Miss, but I wanted to ask you a question.”
Ms. Gardner smiled, “Of course Rasheed, speak what is on your mind.”
“I was wondering…am I your favourite student?”
Ms. Gardner gazed directly into the eyes of her student then replied, “Yes, Rasheed, you are indeed my favourite.”
Rasheed was overjoyed and ecstatic as he left the classroom. He couldn’t wait to tell the others.
The second student, Sara, was one of the most popular girls in the school. Sara received high marks in class and was involved in many extracurricular activities. Sara could not believe for one second what she had heard from Rasheed. She knew that she was Ms. Gardner’s favourite student. The next day after class, Sara approached Ms. Gardner beaming of confidence and self-assurance, “Excuse me Miss, but I wanted to ask you a question.”
Ms. Gardner smiled, “Of course Sara, speak what is on your mind.”
“I was wondering…am I your favourite student?”
Ms. Gardner gazed directly into the eyes of her student then replied, “Yes, Sara, you are indeed my favourite.”
Sara walked out of the classroom with her head held high and a sense of triumph about her. She couldn’t wait to tell the others.
The third student, Bobby, was an introverted and reclusive young man. Bobby was an average student but he was talented in other respects. Bobby was surprised to hear the accounts of the other two students because he, in fact, knew that he was Ms. Gardner’s favourite student. The next day after school, Bobby approached Ms. Gardner timidly, “Excuse me Miss, but I wanted to ask you a question.”
Ms. Gardner smiled, “Of course Bobby, speak what is on your mind.”
“I was wondering…am I your favourite student?”
Ms. Gardner looked directly into the eyes of her student then replied, “Yes, Bobby, you are indeed my favourite.”
Bobby walked out of her classroom quietly overjoyed. He couldn’t wait to tell the others.
When the three students shared their accounts they could not make any sense of the situation. Each student had approached the teacher and asked her the same question and each one had received the same answer. Ms. Gardner had told each of the three students that they indeed were her favourite. How could this be? The students had decided that they would settle this matter once and for all.
The next day after class, the three students together approached Ms. Gardner and demanded an explanation as to why she had told each of them that they were her favourite student. In this moment the teacher began to glow and to become increasingly radiant. It was as if she was emitting a brilliant golden light as she began to speak, “I have told you all that you are my favourite student because in the very moment that you each approached me you were my favourite student.”
She looked over her students and saw that they were confused and unsatisfied but eager to listen. She continued her explanation, “There are three principles by which I live my life. The first principle is that the most important time is the present moment. This never changes. My focus and awareness is on the immediate present. The second principle is that the most important person in my life is the person that I am within the present moment. This never changes. All of my focus and attention is on the person that I am with. The third principle is that the most important action for me to take is to love the person that I am with in the present moment. This never changes. All of my focus and attention is on loving the person or people that I am with in the present moment. Therefore, it follows that in every moment the student or students that I am with are my favourite students.”
The three students were humbled. They now appreciated their compassionate teacher with a greater sense of reverence. Furthermore, they realized that Ms. Gardner had told the truth to each of them and they all realized that they were her favourite student in those precious moments that she was with them.
Math Stories For You 