Steve, a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic1 parents, was about to be lost forever, by the U.S. education system. Remarkably, he could read, yet, in spite of his reading skills, Steve was failing. He had been failing since first grade, as he was passed on from grade to grade. Steve was a big boy, looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old, yet, Steve went unnoticed... until Miss White.
Miss White was a smiling, young, beautiful redhead, and Steve was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn't take his eyes off his teacher; yet, still he failed. He never did his homework, and he was always in trouble with Miss White. His heart would break under her sharp words, and when he was punished for failing to turn in his homework, he felt just miserable! Still, he did not study.
In the middle of the first semester2 of school, the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things, as the day wore on3. His heart was not in school, but in the woods, where he often escaped alone, trying to shut out the sights, sounds and smells of his alcoholic home. No one checked on him to see if he was safe. No one knew he was gone, because no one was sober4 enough to care. Oddly, Steve never missed a day of school.
One day, Miss White's impatient5 voice broke into his daydreams.
“Steve!!” Startled6, he turned to look at her.
“Pay attention!”
Steve locked his gaze7 on Miss White with adolescent8 adoration9, as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.
“You all did pretty well,” she told the class, “except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but...” She hesitated, pinning10 Steve to his seat with a sharp stare, her eyes searching his face.
“...The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!”
She just stared at Steve, as the class spun11 around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.
After that, it was war!! Steve still wouldn't do his homework. Even as the punishments became more severe, he remained stubborn12.
“Just try it! ONE WEEK!” He was unmoved.
“You're smart enough! You'll see a change!” Nothing fazed13 him.
“Give yourself a chance! Don't give up on your life!” Nothing.
“Steve! Please! I care about you!”
Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it!! Someone cared about him? Someone, totally unattainable14 and perfect, CARED ABOUT HIM??!!
Steve went home from school, thoughtful15, that afternoon. Walking into the house, he took one look around. Both parents were passed out16, in various stages of undress, and the stench17 was overpowering18! He, quickly, gathered up his camping gear19, a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, a bottle of water, and this time...his schoolbooks. Grim20 faced and determined, he headed for the woods.
The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all sparkle and smiles! God, she was beautiful! He yearned21 for her smile to turn on him. It did not.
Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test, and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk, his heart pounding22 within his chest. As he sat down, he couldn't resist another look at the lovely woman.
Miss White's face was in total shock! She glanced up at Steve, then down, then up. Suddenly, her face broke into a radiant smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test!
From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same, but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it! He discovered that he could understand and retain knowledge, and that he could translate the things he learned into his own life. Steve began to excel23! And he continued this course throughout his school life.
After highschool Steve enlisted in the Navy, and he had a successful military career. During that time, he met the love of his life, he raised a family, and he graduated from college Magna Cum Laude24. During his Naval career, he inspired many young people, who without him, might not have believed in themselves. Steve began a second career after the Navy, and he continues to inspire others, as an adjunct25 professor in a nearby college.
Miss White left a great legacy26. She saved one boy who has changed many lives. I know, because I am the love of his life.
You see, it's simple, really. A change took place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who cared.
岁的斯蒂夫，父母都是酒鬼，他就要被美国教育制度永远毁掉了。很明显，他能够阅读，但总不及格。从一年级开始，一年一年过去了，他依然不及格。斯蒂夫身材魁梧，看上去不止12岁。但他一直被忽视……直到有一天怀特小姐的到来。
怀特小姐是一个年轻、漂亮且总是面带微笑的红发女郎。斯蒂夫立刻就迷上了她。这是他平生第一次无法把视线从老师身上移开，然而，他还是不及格。他从不做家庭作业，还总是找怀特小姐的茬。每当她说话尖刻时，他感到自己的心都碎了;每次不交家庭作业被罚时，他都感到非常痛苦。尽管如此，他还是不学习。
第一学期的期中，整个七年级要进行基本技能测验。斯蒂夫匆忙完成了测验，继续幻想其他事情。就这样，日子一天天过去了。他的心并不在学校，而在他经常独自藏身的树林。在那里，他试图摆脱酒鬼之家的所见所闻和气味。没有人关心他是否安全,也没有人知道他已经走了，因为没有人头脑清醒到顾及其他。不过奇怪的是，斯蒂夫从未逃过一次学。
一天，怀特小姐焦躁的声音打破了他的白日梦。
“斯蒂夫！！”他感到很吃惊，转过头去看着她。
“注意力要集中！”
她开始宣布七年级测验结果，斯蒂夫用那种青春少年特有的爱慕眼神盯着怀特小姐。
她对全班说：“除了一个男生，你们都考得很好。告诉你们这个真让我感到伤心，但是……”她停顿了一下，眼光转向斯蒂夫的座位，用犀利的目光在他的脸上搜寻着什么。
“我们七年级最聪明的孩子，我的科目他竟然不及格！”
她盯着斯蒂夫，全班同学都转过头来看着他。斯蒂夫低下头，盯着自己的指尖。
然而，在那之后，交锋升级为战争！！斯蒂夫还是不做家庭作业。即使惩罚更加严厉，他依然顽固不化。
“就试一下！一个星期也可以啊！”他无动于衷。
“你非常聪明！你会有进步的！”任何话语都无法打动他。
“给自己一个机会！不要自暴自弃！”依然无动于衷。
“斯蒂夫，求求你。我很关心你！”
哦！突然，斯蒂夫好像明白了！！有人关心他？一个这么高高在上、完美无缺的人竟然关心他？！！
那天下午，斯蒂夫思绪万千地回了家。进屋后，他环顾了一下四周，发现父母烂醉如泥、衣衫不整，屋子里的恶臭让人无法忍受。他迅速找齐自己的宿营用具，拿了一罐花生酱、一条面包、一瓶水……这次还带上了自己的课本，表情严肃且坚定地去了树林。
接下来的周一，他准时到了学校，等着怀特小姐走进教室。她笑容满面、神采飞扬地走进来了。天哪！她太美了！他希望她能对他微笑，但是没有。
怀特小姐立刻决定对周末的家庭作业进行测验。斯蒂夫很快完成了测验，并且第一个交了卷。怀特小姐满脸惊奇地收下了他的卷子。带着明显的困惑，她开始批阅他的试卷。斯蒂夫回到自己的座位，心怦怦直跳。坐下之后，他禁不住再次看了一眼这位可爱的女士。
怀特小姐大大惊呆了！她瞟了一眼斯蒂夫，然后低下头，又再次抬起来。突然，她的脸上绽放出笑容。七年级最聪明的男孩终于第一次通过了测验！
从那一刻起，斯蒂夫如同换了一个人。虽然家里的生活依旧，但他自己确实发生了变化。他发现自己不仅能够学习，而且能够学得很好！他发现自己能够理解且牢牢记住知识，并能将学到的知识运用到自己生活中。斯蒂夫开始出类拔萃。在他此后的学习过程中，他一直非常优秀。
高中毕业后，斯蒂夫应征加入了海军，在军队中表现也非常出色。那段时间，他遇到了自己生命中的最爱，拥有了自己的家庭，并以优等成绩从海军学院毕业。在他的海军生涯中，他激励了很多年轻人。如果没有他，这些人可能无法认识到自己的价值。从海军退伍之后，斯蒂夫开始了第二职业，他在附近的一所大学担任副教授，并继续启迪他人。
怀特小姐留下了宝贵的财富。她挽救了一个男孩，这个男孩又改变了许多人的生活。我了解这些，因为我就是他生命中的最爱。
你看，真的就这么简单。仅仅由于一个老师的关心，一个男孩的内心发生了如此巨大的变化。
1. alcoholic adj. 嗜酒如命的
2. semester n. 学期
3. wear on （时间）慢慢地过去
4. sober adj. 清醒的，冷静的
5. impatient adj. 焦躁的，恼火的
6. startle v. 吃惊，惊吓
7. gaze n. 凝视，端详
8. adolescent adj. 青春期的
9. adoration n. 崇拜，敬爱
10. pin v. 把…固定住
11. spin v. 旋转
12. stubborn adj. 顽固的，固执的
13. faze v. 打扰，烦扰
14. unattainable adj. 达不到的，不可获得的
15. thoughtful adj. 沉思的，思考的
16. pass out 烂醉如泥
17. stench n. 恶臭
18. overpowering adj. 压倒的，强烈得使人无法忍受的
19. gear n. 工具，用具
20. grim adj. 严厉的，令人生畏的
21. yearn v. 渴望
22. pound v. 剧跳，狂跳
23. excel v. 超常，胜过他人
24. magna cum laude (拉丁文) （以）优等成绩
25. adjunct adj. 辅助的，副的
26. legacy n. 遗赠，遗产