CRUSHING BLOW

When I was in high school, I received a crushing blow. I was in an English class and had been asked to write a paper on an interesting character in my life. I knew exactly who it would be about and went to work immediately on the paper. It was one of the finest pieces that I have ever written. But much to my chagrin, when the paper came back I had received a C+. I could not believe my eyes. What was she thinking? Who did she think she was, the teacher or something? Surely, this was one of the greats in the world of literature. After all I was only following the examples of Steinbeck and Hemingway.

Although I was completely crushed by her evaluation of my writing abilities, I kept that paper tucked away; and a few years ago, I came across it in my box of stuff. I reluctantly read it not wanting to have to admit to myself that it was actually as mediocre as she had declared by her C+. Much to my delight, I found the paper to be well written, thoughtful, and worthy of reading aloud to my class of giggly teenage peers. I thought to myself, "This is clearly an A paper."

I came to realize, later in life, that my paper was just one in a stack of dozens sitting on her desk. Why on earth would I allow her to tell me that my writing abilities are only worth a C+? I am grateful that I did not become discouraged by the grade she gave me. On the contrary, I have continued to write and to express myself as only Steinbeck and Hemingway would have expected of me.